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MATTHIAS 


HIS    IMPOSTURES: 


PROGRESS    OF    FANATICISM. 


ILLUSTRATED     IN     THE     EXTRAORDINARY     CASE 

ROBERT    MATTHEWS, 


AND    SOME     OF     HIS     FORERUNNERS     AND  .DISCIPLES. 


"  It  ill  comports  with  the  majesty  of  tnith,  or  the  character  of  God,  to  believe  that  ho 
has  built  the  noblest  superetruclure  on  the  weakest  foundation ;  or  ruJuced  mankind  to  Iho 
miserable  alternative  either  of  remaining  destitute  of  the  knowledge  of  himself,  or  of  do- 
tiving  it  from  the  source  of  impious  imposture."— floiert  HaXl. 


BY   WILLIAM    L.    STONE. 


NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

NO.     82     CLIFF-STREET, 
AND  SOLD  BY  THE   PRINCIPAL   BOOKSELLERS  TIIROUOHOUT   tV.% 

UNITED    STATES, 

183  5. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1835, 

By  Harper  &  Brothers, 

In  the  Clerk's  OiKce  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-YorL 


PREFACE. 


It  was  not  until  the  last  week  in  the  recent 
month  of  April,  that  the  idea  of  the  present  work 
was  suggested.  In  conversation  with  a  distin- 
guished clerical  friend,  upon  the  subject  of  Mat- 
thias and  his  impostures,  particularly  in  regard  to 
the  respectability  of  the  people  whom  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  leading  so  widely  astray,  the  writer 
mentioned  the  fact,  that,  after  all,  the  pretended 
prophet  was  but  a  circumstance,  as  it  were,  in  a 
series  of  delusions  originating  in  fanaticism  twelve 
or  thirteen  years  since,  which,  in  their  progress, 
had  been  marked  at  different  periods,  by  trans- 
actions and  absurdities  scarcely  less  censurable, 
or  extraordinary,  than  the  gross  impieties  of  the 
arch-impostor  himself.  With  a  great  number  of 
facts  in  relation  to  the  matters  referred  to,  the  writer 
had  become  acquainted  as  they  transpired  ;  and  in 
the  belief  that  he  could  possess  himself  of  all 
ethers  essential  to  a  continuous  history  of  one  of 


4  Preface. 

the  most  singular  and  extraordinary  delusions  that 
have  ever  appeared,  and  flourished  for  so  great  a 
length  of  time,  among  an  intelligent  Christian 
people,  he  suggested  the  idea  of  collecting  the 
particulars,  and  publishing  them  in  a  little  volume. 
*'  Do  it  by  all  means,  if  you  can  obtain  the  facts," 
was,  in  substance,  the  reply.  Before,  however, 
the  work  was  seriously  undertaken,  the  writer 
mentioned  the  project  to  a  number  of  clerical,  and 
other  religious  friends,  by  every  one  of  whom  he 
was  urged  to  proceed.  The  materials  were  mostly 
collected  early  in  the  month  of  May — since  which 
period  the  work  itself  has  been  written,  at  intervals 
of  time,  and  amidst  the  calls  of  a  daily  occupation, 
which  is  as  endless  as  the  circle. 

At  the  time  when  the  composition  of  the  work 
was  commenced,  and  even  after  the  first  sheet  had 
been  stereotyped,  the  writer  was  not  certain  of 
obtaining  access  to  the  private  prayers,  medita- 
tions, and  other  manuscripts,  of  the  late  Elijah 
Pierson ;  nor  did  he  then  anticipate  so  full  and 
interesting  a  narrative  of  the  connection  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Folger  with  Matthews  and  Pierson, 
as  he  has  since  been  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain ; 
although  from  the  first,  he  was  promised  assistance 
from  that  quarter.  The  papers  of  Mr.  Pierson 
are  alike  curious,  remarkable,  and  interesting ; 
and  the  narrative  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  which 


PREFACE.  5 

has  been  incorporated  in  the  work  entire,  forms 
one  of  the  strangest  chapters  in  the  history  of  the 
human  mind,  that  have  ever  been  written.  It  also 
raises  the  veil  which  has  hitherto  concealed  from 
the  public  eye,  the  proceedings  of  Matthews  and 
his  disciples  in  the  "  Mount  Zion"  of  Singsing, 
and  gives  a  full  account  of  the  internal  police  of 
that  establishment.  The  writer  has  likewise  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  larger  number  of  facts  and 
anecdotes  respecting  the  impostor,  and  authentic 
details  of  interviews  and  conversations  with  him, 
than  he  at  first  expected ;  so  that  the  work  has 
grown  in  the  process  of  its  preparation,  to  up- 
ward of  a  hundred  pages  more  than  was  originally 
intended.  Still,  it  is  believed  the  reader  will  not 
be  wearied  in  the  perusal.  Much  available  matter 
has  been  omitted,  and  nothing  has  been  retained 
which  was  not  deemed  essential  to  the  object  and 
design  of  the  work.  It  is  often  necessary,  for  the 
cause  of  truth,  to  expose  opinions,  which,  in  them- 
selves, are  so  monstrous  as  not  to  merit  a  moment's 
consideration. 

Unless  the  writer  is  greatly  deceived,  these 
pages  will  be  found  to  comprise  a  history  that  is 
perfectly  unique — a  delusion  sui  generis — whether 
arising  from  individual  fanaticism,  or  enthusiasm, 
or  madness  ;  or  combined,  or  individual  imposture. 
Jt  has  been  contended  by  some  mental  philoso- 


d  PHEFACE. 

phers,  that  "  men  do  not  so  much  believe  in  any 
error  as  in  truth,  and  that  there  is  no  error  in  which 
there  is  not  some  share,  however  small,  of  truth." 
But  this  proposition  will  not  stand  for  a  moment, 
against  the  errors  disclosed  in  the  following  pages, 
made  up  as  they  are  of  the  pure  and  unmixed 
elements  of  falsehood.  This  fact,  then,  for  such 
it  must  be  esteemed,  overthrows  entirely  the 
theory  of  Victor  Cousin,  \vho  says,  in  commenting 
upon  Locke's  chapter  on  the  causes  of  error,  that 
he  "  shall  never  cease  to  repeat,  that  there  is  no 
total  error  in  an  intelligent  and  rational  being. 
Men  of  genius,  and  ordinary  men,  unquestionably 
give  in  to  many  errors,  and  attach  themselves  to 
them  ;  but  not  that  to  which  makes  them  errors,  but 
to  the  part  of  truth  which  is  in  them."  And  again, 
*'  It  is  the  truth,  joined  to  the  error,  which  gives 
to  the  error  all  its  force,  which  gives  it  birth,  sus- 
tains it,  spreads  it,  explains  and  excuses  it."  The 
writer  apprehends,  however,  that  it  would  puzzl.e 
M.  Cousin,  and  even  Leibnitz  himself,  whom  the  dis- 
tinguished Psychologist  recognizes  as  the  greatest 
of  modern  authorities,  to  find  the  slightest  ad- 
mixture of  truth,  in  the  system  imposed  upon  his 
followers  by  Robert  Matthews. 

The  writer's  design  was  to  render  the  work  a 
simple  record,  or  narrative,  of  facts,  without  aiming 
at  the  embellishments  of  learning,  or  of  rhetoric,  or 


PREFACE*  7 

the  indulgence  of  theoretical  or  philosophical  specu- 
lation. In  the  execution  of  his  design,  it  has  been 
his  study  to  spare  the  feelings,  and  avoid  giving 
the  names,  of  individuals,  as  far  as  could  be  done 
with  propriety,  or  the  obligations  to  truth  would 
allow.  And  he  has  throughout  endeavoured  to 
act  in  strict  obedience  to  the  law  of  kindness — ex- 
ercising, withal,  the  same  measure  of  charity 
which  he  would  himself  desire  to  be  meted  to  him 
in  return,  under  the  like  circumstances.  Indeed, 
in  this  latter  respect,  he  may  be  charged  by  some, 
with  having  gone  too  far.  It  may  possibly  be  urged, 
that  in  a  land  like  ours,  no  man  can,  innocently, 
receive  any  thing  which  grossly  contradicts  divine 
revelation.  The  Scriptures,  on  leading  and  funda- 
mental truths,  are  so  plain  that  he  who  runs  may 
read :  and  it  may  therefore  be  contended,  that  he 
who,  with  his  Bible  in  his  hand,  receives  such  a 
being  as  Matthews  in  the  character  of  God  the 
Father,  has  a  heavy  account  to  settle  at  God's  bar. 
It  is  readily  granted,  that  to  hold  up  individuals 
who  had  blindly  embraced  such  a  monstrous  heresy, 
while  of  sound  mind,  as  subjects  of  pity  and 
compassion  merely,  and  without  awarding  to  them 
a  very  heavy  degree  of  censure,  would  be  reflect- 
ing upon  God,  diminishing  the  sense  of  man's 
responsibility,  and  dishonouring  the  blessed  reve- 
lation of  the  Most  High.     But  the  severity  of  cen- 


8  PREFACE. 

sure  must  be  visited  only  in  proportion  to  the 
soundness  of  the  mind  of  the  victim,  and  the  ex- 
tent to  which  reason  is  dethroned  by  the  delusion. 
With  these  preliminary  remarks,  the  work  is  com- 
mitted to  the  pubhc.  The  writer  sincerely  hopes 
it  may  be  of  some  service  to  the  cause  of  evangel- 
ical truth,  if  in  no  other  way,  by  guarding  Christian 
professors  against  the  indulgence  of  a  self-righteous 
and  fanatical  spirit,  and  also  against  the  dangers  of 
enthusiasm.  If,  through  ignorance,  or  mistaken 
views  of  truth  or  from  any  other  cause,  he  has 
said  aught  amiss,  he  begs  that  it  may  be  forgotten 
and  forgiven. 

New-York,  June  12,  1835. 


MATTHIAS 

AND 

HIS    IMPOSTURES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Preliminary  Remarks — Early  Life  of  Matthews — Comes  to  New- 
York,  and  acquires  a  Trade — Returns  to  the  Country,  and 
commences  Merchant — Marries  in  New-York — Becomes  a 
Bankrujjt — Returns  to  his  old  Employment  in  New- York — 
Again  retires  to  the  Country — Removes  to  Albany — Religious 
Excitement — Becomes  an  ultra  Temperance  Advocate — 
Grows  fanatical— Disturbs  Public  Worship— Flies  from  Al- 
bany in  the  Night  with  three  of  his  Children — Excitement  and 
Alarm — Strange  Conduct — Arrest — Street-preaching  in  Al- 
bany—Changes his  Name — Mission  to  the  West  an^  South — 
Advent  in  New-York. 

"  I  HAVE  always  observed,  that  when  people  be- 
come better  than  the  Bible,  they  are  very  apt  to  be 
wrong."  Such,  recently,  was  the  remark  of  one  of 
the  ablest  and  wisest  of  American  divines,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  ultraism  of  the  day,  in  matters  of  philan- 
thropy and  religion,  more  especially  in  regard  to  the 
professions  and  practices  of  those  who  have  been 
designated  as  "  new-measure  men,"  in  the  production 
and  conduct  of  religious  revivals.  It  was  an  obser- 
vation full  of  wisdom.  Nothing  can  be  more  dan- 
B 


14  MATTHIAS    AND 

gerous  in  spiritual  matters  than  tampering  with  the 
sacred  Scriptures,  either  by  adding  to,  or  taking  from, 
the  simple  letter  of  the  written  word,  or  wresting  its 
plain  and  obvious  meaning.  That  holy  book  proclaims, 
in  the  language  of  Robert  Hall,  "a  doctrine,  full,  pure, 
perfect,  to  which  nothing  can  be  added  without  de- 
basing its  spirit,  nothing  taken  away  without  impair- 
ing its  proportions — committed  to  our  trust  to  be  re- 
tained and  preserved  Just  as  we  have  received  it." 
There  is  no  passage  in  the  sacred  volume  uttered 
with  more  tremendous  emphasis  than  its  solemn 
conclusion  : — "  I  tesiifij  unto  every  man  that  heareth 
the  woi'ds  of  the  prophecij  of  this  hool\  if  any  man 
shall  add  unto  these  things,  God  shall  add  unto  him 
the  plagues  that  are  written  in  this  book :  Jlnd  if 
any  man  shall  take  awaij  from  the  words  of  the  book 
of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his  part  out 
of  the  book  of  life,  and  oid  of  the  holy  city,  and  from 
the  things  that  are  written  in  this  book.''^  This  is 
a  fearful  denunciation.  God  has  always  punished, 
with  the  infliction  of  signal  and  lamentable  delusion, 
all  who  have  dared  to  claim  for  themselves  imme- 
diate inspiration  from  Heaven ; — they  and  their  fol- 
lowers, like  Theudas,  who  boasted  himself  to  be 
somebody,  have  wandered  into  the  wilderness  of 
error  ; — it  is  well  if  they  have  not  suffered  the  penal- 
ties of  guilt. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  the  miserable  end  and 
overthrow  of  most  former  impostors  and  their 
schemes,  with  the  exception  of  that  stupendous  de- 
lusion which  yet  stands  a  miracle  in  the  Moslem 
power,  the  world  is  as  full  of  them  at  this  day  of 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  15 

boasted  intelligence,  even  among  Christians,  as  ever 
it  was.  Nor  are  they  now,  more  than  of  old,  con- 
fined to  the  professors  of  Christianity.  ,  Strange  as 
I  it  may  appear,  enthusiasm,  fanaticism,  and  impos- 
ture have  ever  been  as  rife  among  those  religionists 
whose  crude  belief  was  itself  an  imposition,  as 
among  those  whose  faith  stands  upon  the  word  of 
the  Eternal,  and  the  truth  of  which  has  been  sealed 
by  the  blood  of  His  Son.  Thus  is  imposture  itself 
imposed  upon,  and  the  priests  of  falsehood,  circum- 
vented by  those  who  are  in  reality  no  greater  de- 
ceivers than  themselves,  are  often  cheated  of  their 
disciples,  who,  in  their  new  delusion,  are  no  more 
deluded  than  they  were  before.  The  Hindoo  is 
cheated  by  the  fakirs ;  the  cool  and  philosophic 
Mussulman  is  deceived  by  the  dervis ;  and  even 
the  unsophisticated  pagans  of  the  North  American 
forests  are  carried  away  by  the  puerile  incantations 
of  their  own  medicine- men. 

A  history  of  religious  impostures  would  form  a 
library  of  itself.  The  human  mind,  in  all  ages  and 
countries,  and  under  all  forms  of  government  and 
religion,  seems  to  have  been  wonderfully  susceptible 
of  delusion  and  imposition  upon  that  subject,  which, 
of  all  others,  is  the  most  important  both  for  time 
and  eternity.  The  court  of  Egypt  was  deluded  by 
the  impostors  who  undertook  to  contend  with  Moses; 
and  the  chosen  people  themselves,  notwithstanding 
the  direct  disclosures  which  the  Most  High  had 
made  of  himself  in  all  their  wonderful  history,  were 
prone  to  turn  aside  from  the  worship  of  the  true 
God,  to  follow  the  lying  spirits  of  the  prophets  of 


16         5  MATTHIAS    AND 

Baal  and  other  deceivers,  from  the  days  of  Moses 
till  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem. — "  The  projihets 
prophesy  falsely ;  the  priests  bear  rule  by  their  means ; 
and  my  people  love  to  have  it  so,"  was  the  testimony 
of  Jeremiah.  So  likewise  under  the  Christian 
•;;,  /  dispensation,  from  the  defection  of  Simon  Magus  to 
I  the  wild  delirium  of  Edward  Irving,  there  have  been 
a  succession  of  Antichrists,  until  their  name  is  le- 
gion— pretenders  to  Divine  missions,  the  power  of 
working  miracles,  the  gift  of  tongues — perverting 
the  Scriptures,  "  leading  astray  silly  women,"  and 
men  too, — destroying  the  peace  of  families,  throwing 
communities  into  confusion,  and  firebrands  into  the 
Church, — clouding  the  understandings  and  blinding 
the  moral  perceptions  of  men,  and  subverting  the 
faith  of  those,  even,  whose  mountains  stood  strong, 
and  who  had  been  counted  among  the  chosen  people 
of  God. 

Doubtless  there  have  been  instances  in  which  the 
impostors  have  themselves  been  partially  deranged 
— in  which  intense  application,  or  much  learning, 
may  have  made  them  mad — possessing,  however, 
enough  of  method  in  their  madness,  like  Edward 
Irving,  to  involve  others  in  the  same  hallucinations 
with  themselves.  In  other  cases,  as  with  the  Puri- 
tans, and  the  persecutions  for  witchcraft  in  the  early 
days  of  New-England,  the  actors  have  been  im- 
pelled by  strong  but  mistaken  views  of  duty — verily 
believing  that  they  were  doing  God  service.  But 
in  a  vast  majority  of  instances,  as  with  the  recreant 
convert  of  Philip,  the  instruments  of  imposture  have 
been  full  of  all  subtlety  and  mischief — children  of 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  17 

the  fallen  Son  of  tlie  Morning.  "  In  the  last  dcnjs^^^ 
says  the  Apostle  Peter,  "  there  shall  come  scoffers, 
ivalking  after  their  own  lusts,''* — "  chiefly  them  which 
walk  after  the  flesh,  in  the  lust  of  uncleanness,  and 
despise  government ;  presumptuous  are  they,  self- 
willed,  they  are  not  afraid  to  speak  evil  of  dignities ; 
sporting  themselves  in  their  own  deceivings,  having 
eyes  full  of  adultery,  and  that  cannot  cease  from  sin; 
beguiling  unstable  souls ;  for  when  they  speak  great 
swelling  words  of  vanity,  they  allure  through  the 
lusts  of  the  flesh,  through  much  wantonness,  those 
that  were  clean  escaped  from  them  who  live  in  error  ; 
while  they  promise  them  liberty,  they  themselves  are 
the  servants  of  corruption.''*  And  again  the  Apostle 
Jude  admonishes  us  "  to  remember  that  they  were 
foretold  as  mockers,  who  should  be  in  the  last  time, 
who  should  ivalk  after  their  own  ungodly  lusts. 
These  be  they  who  separate  themselves,  sensualj  not 
having  the  spirit.'* 

It  is  wondeiful  to  observe  with  what  precision 
these  prophecies  have  been  fulfilled  by  the  clouds 
of  impostors  who  have  appeared — "spoken  great 
swollen  words  of  vanity,"  and  fallen — since  the  in- 
spired sentences  were  uttered.  And  it  may  be  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  evidences  of  the  truth  of  in- 
spiration, that  had  the  long  array  of  apostates  and 
deceivers  actually  stood  before  the  sacred  penmen 
at  the  time  of  their  writing,  their  characters  all  naked 
before  them,  the  likenesses,  from  the  first  Christian 
apostate  to  the  sensual  Mormons,  could  not  have 
been  drawn  with  greater  fidelity.  Whether  among 
the  number,  and  though  last  not  ieosi  may  be 
B2 


18  MATTHIAS    AND 

ranked  the  principal  subject  of  the  following  pages, 
will  be  left  for  the  reader  to  determine  after  their 
perusal. 

Robert  Matthews — for  that  is  the  real  name 
of  the  subject  of  this  history — is  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  in  the  State  of  New-York,  and  of 
Scotch  extraction.  He  is  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  and  of  respectable  parentage,  though  a  mental 
eccentricity  has  characterized  several  members  of 
the  family.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  a  tender  age, 
and  was  brought  up  in  the  family  of  a  respectable 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Cambridge,  in  the  county  al- 
ready mentioned,  belonging  to  the  church  of  the 
Anti- burgher  branch  of  Seceders.  It  is  related  of 
him,  that  when  the  clergyman  visited  the  family  on 
a  certain  occasion,  to  catechise  the  children,  he  be- 
came much  pleased  with  Matthews,  then  about 
seven  years  of  age.  As  the  good  man  departed,  he 
laid  his  hand  on  the  head  of  Robert,  and  gave  him 
his  blessing.  From  that  moment  the  lad  said  he 
always  expected  to  become  a  distinguished  per- 
sonage. 

At  the  age  of  about  twenty  years,  Matthews  came 
to  the  city  of  New-York,  and  worked  at  the  business 
of  a  carpenter  and  house-joiner,  which  he  had  par- 
tially learned  in  the  country,  and  in  which  occupa- 
tion he  became  a  first-rate  workman.  He  had 
always  a  fine  mechanical  genius,  as  had  also  two 
of  his  brothers,  at  least ;  one  of  whom  resided  in 
Rochester  a  f^ew  years  since,  where  he  died ;  and 
the  other,  who,  self-instructed,  had  become  a  por- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  19 

trait  painter  of  some  excellence,  also  died  within 
a  few  years,  in  the  western  part  of  New-York, 
insane. 

From  the  excellence  of  his  work,  he  had  full  em- 
ployment in  those  branches  requiring  the  greatest 
skill.  The  consequence  was,  that  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years  he  accumulated  money  enough  to  en- 
able him  to  return  to  Cambridge,  and  commence 
business  as  a  country  merchant.  He  was  con- 
sidered a  very  respectable  man,  made  a  profession 
of  religion  in  connection  with  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terian church,  and  continued  for  some  years  without 
doing  any  thing  to  excite  suspicion  as  to  the  sound- 
ness of  his  head  or  heart.  He  was  considered,  in- 
deed, as  ranking  rather  above  the  average  cast  of 
men  in  his  neighbourhood  ;  and  although  naturally 
somewhat  vain  of  his  own  parts,  and  not  a  little 
elated  by  his  success,  and  the  good  opinions  enter- 
tained of  him,  yet  his  conduct  was  unexceptionable, 
and  he  courted  and  enjoyed  the  society  of  those  who 
were  above  the  sphere  in  which  he  had  recently 
moved.  If  extravagant  in  his  habits  at  this  time,  it 
was  only  in  the  article  of  dress,  of  which  he  was 
always  vain. 

He  was  married  in  the  year  1813,  in  the  city  of 
New- York  (while  on  a  visit  for  the  purchase  of 
goods),  to  a  young  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  respect- 
able Scotch  mechanic,  who  had  formerly  resided  in 
Washington  county,  where  his  daughter  was  born. 
Returning  to  Cambridge,  he  continued  business  as  a 
merchant  three  or  four  years  longer,  and  was  still 
considered   a  very   respectable   man,   maintaining 


20  MATTHIAS    AND 

his  standing  in  the  church  as  a  regular  worshipper 
and  a  consistent  Christian.  About  a  year  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  say  in  1816,  he  commenced  build- 
ing a  large  edifice  for  a  store,  but  became  unfor- 
tunate in  his  pecuniary  affairs,  and  failed  before  its 
completion — involving  in  his  ruin  an  aged  and 
honest  mechanic,  who,  by  industry  and  frugality,  had 
secured  a  competency  for  his  family.  Some  hard 
things  were  said  of  Matthews  in  relation  to  these 
transactions  ;  but,  perhaps,  without  any  greater  or 
more  aggravated  cause  than  is  to  be  found  in  most 
cases  of  similar  misfortune. 

Being  thus  broken  up  in  his  mercantile  business, 
he  returned  to  New-York  with  his  family,  and  re- 
sumed his  former  handicraft  as  a  house-joiner. 
He  remained  in  the  city  four  or  five  years,  but  was 
not  satisfied  with  such  employment,  and  resolved 
once  more  to  try  his  fortunes  in  his  native  county ; 
for  which  purpose  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Ar- 
gyle,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  .of  a  mill- 
wright. Not  succeeding  to  his  wishes,  however, 
he  removed  to  Albany  in  1827  or  '28,  and  resumed 
the  joiner's  business  as  a  journeyman,  taking  good 
care  of  his  family,  and  attending  constantly  upon 
the  public  services  in  the  sanctuary — attaching  him- 
self to  the  congregation  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church,  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Ludlow.  The  reason  of  his  leaving  the  Scotch 
Church,  to  which  he  had  previously  belonged,  was 
understood  to  be  some  personal  difficulty  with  his 
minister  in  Washington  county,  resulting  in  a  settled 
dislike  to  that  denomination.     He  very  soon  ap^ 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  21 

peared  to  take  an  increasing  interest  in  religious 
matters ;  attended  church  and  social  prayer  meet- 
ings, and  conversed  frequently  upon  the  subject. 
Some  time  subsequent  to  this  period,  the  late  Dr. 
Chester  being  absent  for  his  health,  notice  was 
given  that  a  young  clergyman  from  New- York,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Kirk,  was  to  occupy  the  pulpit  on  a  cer- 
tain evening.  Matthews  went  to  hear  him,  and  on 
his  return  home  appeared  to  be  in  a  state  of  great 
excitement,  declaring  that  he  had  never  heard  any 
thing  like  preaching  before,  and  sat  up  the  greater 
part  of  the  night  repeating,  expounding,  and  com- 
mending passages  from  the  sermon.  His  enthu- 
siasm was  so  great  that  Mrs.  Matthews  remarked 
to  her  daughter  in  the  course  of  the  night,  "  If  your 
father  goes  to  hear  this  man  preach  any  more,  he 
will  go  wild  or  crazy."  He  did  go  again  to  hear 
him  a  number  of  times — was  always  exceedingly 
pleased,  and  became  more  and  more  excited.  Still 
he  behaved  rationally  enough  until  one  evening 
when  he  went  to  hear  Mr.  Finney.  The  services 
were  continued  until  a  late  hour,  and  Matthews 
came  home  in  a  state  bordering  upon  phrensy. 

It  was  not  long  before  a  church  was  formed  for 
Mr.  Kirk  in  Albany,  to  which  Matthews  made  ap- 
plication for  admission  ;  stating  that  he  was  already 
a  member  of  a  church  in  Washington  county.  In- 
quiries were  made  into  his  character  by  the  session  ; 
but  on  sending  to  Cambridge,  a  letter,  or  certificate, 
from  the  church  to  which  he  had  formerly  belonged 
was  withheld.  At  that  time,  as  the  writer  is  informed 
by  a  gentleman  who  was  then  an  officer  of  that 


22  MATTHIAS    AND 

church,  he  exhibited  no  symptoms  of  eccentricity, 
or  of  a  disorganized  mind. 

At  about  the  same  time,  Matthews  engaged  ac- 
tively in  the  temperance  reform,  in  which  he  laboured 
with  all  his  might ;  but  he  was  ultra  in  his  notions, 
— contending  that  the  use  of  meats  should  be  ex- 
cluded, as  well  as  of  strong  drinks. 

A  brother  of  Mrs.  Matthews,  now  a  respectable 
tradesman  in  New- York,  who  had  resided  some 
years  with  his  sister  soon  after  her  marriage,  made 
him  a  visit  just  at  this  crisis.  He  was  kindly  re- 
ceived by  Matthews,  and  observed  no  alteration  in 
his  manners,  except  that  he  soon  introduced  religion 
as  a  subject  of  conversation,  which  was  contrary  to 
his  former  habits  ;  for  although,  as  we  have  seen,  a 
professor  of  religion,  yet  he  had  never  in  former 
years  shown  himself  forward  or  ostentatious  in  these 
matters,  but  was,  on  the  contrary,  rather  reserved. 
He  now  inquired  of  his  brother-in-law  whether  he  yet 
remained  in  connection  with  the  Scotch  church,  and 
being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  replied,  "  Why, 
I  wonder  at  that :  you  are  all  wrong  :  I  used  to  think 
that  church  was  right,  too ;  but  I  find  that  although 
I  have  been  a  professor  these  twenty  years,  I  never 
had  any  religion  until  now — never  until  I  heard  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Kirk  and  Mr.  Finney." 

As  he  continued  his  religious  conversation,  he 
gradually  became  excited,  and  in  the  end  somewhat 
vehement, — especially  on  the  subject  of  temperance 
— strenuously  maintaining  that  intemperance  was 
the  great  evil  at  the  root  of  the  matter,  and  that  the 
world  could  all  be  converted,  if  men  would  only  live 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  23 

up  to  pure  temperance  principles.  Already  had  he 
introduced  a  rigid  system  of  temperance  dietetics  in 
his  own  household — not  allowing  the  use  of  "meats, 
and  keeping  his  family  upon  bread,  fruits,  and  vege- 
tables. It  was  then  the  season  of  blackberries,  and 
these,  with  bread  and  vegetables,  constituted  the 
sole  diet  during  this  visit  of  his  relative — who  left 
him  in  a  frame  of  enthusiasm  bordering  upon  fanat- 
icism. Indeed,  there  were  moments  when,  from 
the  wildness  of  his  eye,  the  brother-in-law  began  to 
tremble  for  his  reason,  as  also  did  the  relatives  in 
New-York  on  hearing  of  his  proceedings. 

During  the  year  1829,  his  conduct  became  more 
and  more  wild  and  unregulated.  His  employment 
was  still  that  of  a  journeyman  house-joiner  ;  but  in- 
stead of  minding  his  work,  he  fell  into  the  practice 
of  exhorting  the  workmen  during  the  hours  of  la- 
bour, and  of  expounding  the  Scriptures  to  them  in  a 
novel  and  enthusiastic  manner,  until  at  length  he  be- 
came so  boisterous,  that  his  employer,  a  very  pious 
man,  was  obliged  to  discharge  him  from  his  service. 
He  claimed  at  this  time  to  have  received  by  revela- 
tion some  new  light,  upon  the.  subject  of  experi- 
mental religion,  but  did  not  as  yet  lay  claim  to  the 
Messiahship,  or  to  any  supernatural  power.  Being 
thus  discharged  from  regular  employment,  however, 
he  had  abundant  leisure  for  street-preaching,  which 
he  commenced  in  a  vociferous  manner, — exhorting 
every  one  he  met  upon  the  subjects  of  temperance 
and  religion,  and  holding  forth  to  crowds  at  the 
corners  of  the  streets.  Having  made  a  convert  of 
one  of  his  fellow-workmen,  they  procured  a  large 


24  MATTHIAS    AND 

white  flag,  on  which  was  inscribed,  "  Rally  round  the 
Standard  of  Truth  ;"  this  they  raised  on  a  pole,  and 
bore  through  the  streets  every  morning,  haranguing 
the  multitudes  whom  their  strange  appearance  and 
demeanour  attracted.  A  young  student  of  divinity, 
catching  the  infection,  as  it  seemed,  united  himself 
with  Matthews,  and  with  him  visited  the  abodes  of 
profligacy,  intemperance,  and  vice,  on  the  Sabbath 
days,  preaching  repentance  to  their  inmates.  But 
he  was  yet  of  sound  mind,  apparently,  if  he  chose  so 
to  appear.  The  venerable  Dr.  Proudfit  informs  the 
writer,  that  during  this  year  he  fell  in  with  Matthews 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Young  Men's  Bible  Society  of 
Albany,  and  that  he  conducted  himself  in  a  manner 
perfectly  unexceptionable.  He  introduced  himself 
with  an  agreeable  address,  and  appeared  very  devout, 
and  much  engaged  in  the  cause. 

In  his  street-preaching,  consisting  for  the  most 
part  of  more  incoherent  harangues  than  are  often 
uttered  by  men  in  any  condition  of  mind,  his  de- 
clared object  was  the  conversion  of  the  whole  city 
of  Albany, — a  work  which  he  had  been  commis- 
sioned to  undertake.  In  the  spring  of  1830,  finding 
that  the  city  would  not  be  converted,  he  declared  to 
his  wife  that  it  would  be  destroyed,  and  he  thereupon 
began  to  proclaim  the  impending  destruction  of  the 
Albanians  and  their  capital  publicly. 

It  was  about  this  time  that,  coming  home  one 
night,  he  sat  down  before  a  table  to  shave  himself, 
with  an  open  Bible  before  him,  in  which  he  read 
while  preparing  the  soap  for  the  operation.  All  of  a 
sudden  he  exclaimed,  "I  have  found  it — I  have 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  25 

found  a  text  which  proves  that  no  man  who  shaves 
his  beard  can  be  a  true  Christian ;"  and  thereupon 
declared  that  he  would  go  to  the  installation  of  Dr. 
Wilson  (that  having  been  his  intention  when  he  sat 
down  to  shave)  with  his  beard  untouched.  His 
wife  remonstrated,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  and  he  went, 
unshaved,  to  attend  the  ceremony.  While  it  was  in 
progress  he  continued  quiet,  until  near  the  close, 
when  he  stood  up  and  requested  from  the  congrega- 
tion leave  to  ascend  the  pulpit  and  address  them. 
Being  well  known,  the  permission  was  given,  but, 
to  the  great  astonishment  of  his  hearers,  he  burst 
forth  in  wild  ravings,  denouncing  vengeance  against 
the  people  and  the  land ;  and,  claiming  authority  from 
God,  announced  to  the  people,  that  the  end  of  the 
Gentiles  was  come — that  he  was  commanded  to  take 
possession  of  the  world  in  the  name  of  the  King  of 
kings — that  all  nations  and  institutions  established 
on  any  other  foundation  than  the  law  of  God  were 
henceforth  dissolved— and  that  the  law  of  God  was 
from  that  date  the  only  rule  of  government  for  the 
world.  He  attempted  to  continue  his  harangue,  but 
before  he  had  time  to  finish  it,  or  to  proclaim  the  full 
purport  of  his  commission,  the  lights  were  extin- 
guished, and  the  people  dispersed. 

Like  the  Jewish  prophet  of  evil  to  the  city  of  Je- 
rusalem, during  the  siege  by  Vespasian,  Matthews 
continued  his  denunciations  of  wo  against  the  city 
for  several  days — frequently  urging  his  wife  to  fly 
with  him  from  the  approaching  destruction.  Finally, 
about  the  middle  of  June,  soon  after  midnight,  he 
aroused  his  wife  and  her  five  children  from  their 
C 


26  MATTHIAS    AND 

slumbers,  and  told  them  they  must  fly  with  him  to 
the  hills,  as  the  city  would  be  destroyed  the  next 
day.  Not  being  able  to  persuade  the  former  into 
his  belief,  he  then  declared  his  purpose  of  escaping 
himself,  with  his  children,  leaving  the  mother  to  de- 
struction. The  eldest  daughter,  however,  being  of 
age  sufficient  to  discover  the  wildness  and  absurdity 
of  her  father's  conduct,  refused  to  accompany  him  ; 
the  mother  clung  to  the  infant ;  while  the  semi-lu- 
natic or  impostor  took  with  him  his  three  little  boys 
— the  eldest  six,  and  the  youngest  but  two  years  of 
age — and  departed  in  the  dead  of  night. 

The  mother  at  first  thought  but  little  of  the  oc- 
currence, having  seen  his  vagaries  so  frequently  of 
late,  and  presuming  that  by  morning  light  they  would 
all  be  safely  at  home  again.  But  morning  came, 
and  the  day  passed,  and  they  did  not  return.  He 
seemed  indeed  to  have  left  the  city,  nor  could  any 
trace  of  him  be  discovered.  Her  anxiety  now  be- 
came intense,  as  also  was  that  of  the  citizens  to 
whom  she  communicated  the  circumstances.  An 
alarm  was  given,  and  the  people  turned  out  in  great 
numbers  to  search  for  the  wanderers.  It  was  se- 
riously apprehended  that  the  father  might  have  put 
them  to  death  and  destroyed  himself.  The  unhappy 
mother's  distress  increased  with  every  succeeding 
hour ;  the  press  sounded  the  alarm  ;  and  the  mayor 
issued  a  proclamation,  announcing  the  facts,  and 
offering  a  reward  for  the  return  of  the  children. 

But  a  few  days  elapsed,  however,  before  tidings 
were  received  that  the  fugitives  were  all  safely 
housed  in  the  town  of  Argyle,  Washington  county. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  27 

atlatthews  had  a  sister  living  in  Argyle,  a  distance 
of  forty  miles  from  Albany  ;  and  it  subsequently  ap- 
peared that  the  cruel  parent  had  travelled  the  whole 
distance,  regardless  of  the  tender  years  of  his  chil- 
dren, without  stopping — going  the  whole  way  on 
foot — and  arriving  at  the  house  of  his  sister  shortly 
after  midnight,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  from  the 
time  of  his  departure  from  Albany.  Under  any 
other  circumstances,  the  children  would  have  sunk 
midway  from  fatigue  ;  but  the  terror  in  which  they 
were  kept  by  their  father  seemed  to  invest  them 
with  supernatural  strength. 

Arousing  his  sister  and  her  family  from  their 
sleep,  he  greatly  terrified  them  by  his  conduct. 
They  had  heard  nothing  of  his  strange  proceedings  ; 
and  his  incoherent  ravings,  coming  thus  suddenly 
upon  them,  and  at  such  a  gloomy  hour,  were  ap- 
palling. He  declared  that  he  had  fled  with  his 
children  from  Albany,  which  was  to  be  destroyed 
on  the  day  of  his  flight,  and  he  supposed  that  his 
wife  and  the  remaining  children,  who,  like  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Lot,  had  refused  to  escape,  were 
destroyed  also.  His  sister  admitted  them  with  fear 
and  trembling,  not  doubting  that  he  was  raving  mad. 
Having  partaken  of  some  refreshments,  notwith- 
standing his  fatigue,  and  the  still  greater  weariness 
of  his  children, — sinking  from  exhaustion, — he  would 
not  allow  them  to  be  taken  to  bed,  or  to  leave  his 
side,  until  after  the  performance  of  his  evening 
devotions.  He  then  pulled  a  Bible  from  his 
bosom,  and  after  reading  a  chapter,  and  singing  a 
hymn,  in  which  his  children  were  compelled  to  join, 


28  MATTHIAS    AND 

thus  closed  this  first  day  of  his  wanderings  as  a 
prophet. 

The  next  day,  being  the  Christian  Sabbath,  Mat- 
thews repaired  to  the  old  church  in  Argyle,  entered 
during  the  service,  and,  walking  midway  up  the  aisle, 
while  the  minister  was  yet  preaching,  broke  forth 
into  one  of  his  vociferous  exhortations.  He  de- 
clared that  on  the  preceding  day,  judgment  had 
been  pronounced  at  Stillwater,  on  all  Idngdoms,  na- 
tions, and  institutions  not  founded  on  the  law  of 
God.  He  denounced  the  congregation  there  pres- 
ent, as  sitting  in  darkness,  and  warned  them  to  re- 
pent ;  and  proceeded  to  finish  what  he  called  his 
declaration.  He  was  of  course  seized  and  taken 
out  of  the  church  for  thus  disturbing  the  public  wor- 
ship ;  and  on  the  receipt  of  the  tidings  of  his  flight 
from  Albany,  was  carried  back  to  his  family. 

Here  again  his  conduct  continued  equally  strange 
as  before.  Having  now  suffered  his  beard  to  grow 
for  many  weeks,  it  began  to  look  formidable.  He 
continued  to  traverse  the  streets,  in  grotesque  attire, 
and  to  utter  his  violent  declamations,  and  harangue 
such  crowds  as  he  could  collect  around  him.  Re- 
peatedly was  he  arrested  for  disturbances  of  the 
peace  by  his  performances,  and  was  sometimes  con- 
fined on  suspicion  of  lunacy  ;  but,  crazy  or  not,  he 
was  always  discharged  on  examination,  as  of  sound 
mind.  He  next  disposed  of  his  working  tools,  and 
urged  his  wife  to  relinquish  labour  and  follow  him. 
She  remonstrated  ;  but  he  persisted  ;  and  in  reply  to 
her  inquiries  how  she  and  her  children  were  to  be 
provided  for,  he  said  they  must  live  by  faith — that 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  29 

the  Almighty  would  provide  for  them — and  that  if 
they  had  no  other  suppHes,  food  enough  might  be 
found  among  the  roots  and  herbs  of  the  woods.  It 
was  their  duty  to  go  upon  a  mission  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world,  and  their  wants  would  all  be 
supplied. 

Mrs.  Matthews  had  of  course  too  much  sense  to 
hsten  to  these  vagaries  of  fanaticism,  and  refused  to 
go.  He  for  a  time  yet  continued  his  street-preach- 
ing, urging  to  repentance,  temperance,  and  abstinence 
from  meats,  and  growing  daily  more  and  more  loud 
and  boisterous,  and  more  savage  in  his  looks.  He 
denounced  all  who  refused  to  follow  his  doctrines, 
though  his  ravings  were  so  disjointed  and  hetero- 
geneous that  nobody  could  understand  them,  and 
vented  curses  upon  those  who  scoffed  and  derided 
him.  He  read  his  Bible  much,  particularly  the 
Old  Testament,  and  poured  forth  quotations  in  the 
greatest  profusion,  but  without  method,  fitness,  or 
adaptation — rendering  its  sublimest  passages  but 
a  confused  and  incoherent  jumble  of  words,  and  odds 
and  ends  of  sentences  ;  and  yet  there  was  oflen  a 
shrewdness  in  some  of  his  own  sayings,  particularly 
in  reply  to  questions,  or  in  an  occasional  repartee, 
which  raised  a  laugh,  and  convinced  his  miscella- 
neous auditors  that  he  was  less  of  a  fool  than  a 
knave.  But  from  the  wild  screams  and  piercing 
exclamations  which  he  indulged  in  his  incompre- 
hensible orations,  he  became  a  nuisance  of  which 
the  people  had  great  cause  of  complaint. 

It  was  now  that  he  assumed  the  name  of  Mat- 
thias, and  gave  out  that  he  was  a  Jew.  He  then 
C2 


30  i^lATTHIAS    AND 

departed  upon  his  mission  for  the  conversion  of  the 
world,  taking  a  western  course,  for  the  purpose  of 
visiting  his  brother  in  Rochester,  and  everywhere 
attracting  attention,  from  the  length  of  his  beard  and 
the  novelty  of  his  behaviour.  This  brother,  as  has 
already  been  remarked,  was  a  rare  mechanic — in- 
ventive and  curious.  Before  his  death,  he  had  ob- 
tained between  thirty  and  forty  patents  for  as  many 
different  mechanical  discoveries.  The  itinerant 
preacher  soon  quarrelled  with  his  brother,  however, 
and  his  stay  in  Rochester  was  but  a  fortnight ;  and 
it  was  then,  and  from  thence,  that  he  commenced 
his  first  grand  apostolic  tour.  While  in  the  anti- 
masonic  region  of  New- York,  he  declaimed  against 
free-masonry,  as  against  M'hat  he  considered  other 
abominations  of  the  land.  Directing  his  face  to- 
wards the  setting  sun,  he  traversed  the  Western 
States,  through  the  deep  forests,  and  over  the  prairies, 
until  he  had  proclaimed  his  mission  amid  the  wilds 
of  the  Arkansas.  From  thence  he  turned  his  steps 
to  the  south-east — recrossed  the  Father  of  Rivers, 
traversed  the  States  of  Mississippi  and  Tennessee, 
and  penetrated  the  Cherokee  country,  in  Georgia, 
and  commenced  preaching  to  the  Indians.  Here 
he  was  seized  by  the  authorities  of  Georgia,  and 
imprisoned ; — but  he  was  an  overmatch  for  them. 
They  knew  not  what  to  make  of  his  conduct,  or 
what  to  do  with  him.  Ilis  appearance  was  eccen- 
tric ;  his  kindling  eye  flashed  with  fury  as  he  poured 
forth  his  maledictions  upon  them  ;  and  they  were  at 
length  constrained  to  unbar  the  prison-doors,  and 
bid  him  depart.     From  thence  he  bent  his  footsteps 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  81 

to  the  North,  and  passing  through  Washington, 
came  to  the  city  of  New- York.  He  immediately 
visited  the  brother-in-law  heretofore  mentioned,  and 
was  at  first  very  mild  and  agreeable  in  his  manners 
and  conversation,  though  of  course  forbidding  in  his 
aspect,  since  his  temporal  affairs  did  not  then  enable 
him  to  array  himself  in  broadcloth  and  gold,  and  fine 
linen,  and  his  beard  presented  a  most  unchristian 
appearance.  On  being  asked  why  he  had  assumed 
such  a  disguise — why  he  had  abandoned  his  family, 
and  conducted  himself  so  strangely,  he  soon  became 
greatly  excited,  grew  furious,  and  uttered  a  shower 
of  bitter  curses.  Foaming  with  rage,  his  eyes 
kindled  with  passion,  and  he  denounced  his  relative 
as  a  devil,  with  great  violence — declaring  that  he 
had  burnt  his  fingers  by  coming  into  the  devil's 
house.  He  thereupon  departed  in  a  towering  pas- 
sion. 

Little  is  known  with  certainty  either  of  his  pro- 
ceedings, or  his  tenets  and  pretensions  at  this  pe- 
riod. He  remained  for  some  time  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  exhibiting  himself  frequently  in  various 
parts  of  the  city,  grotesquely  but  meanly  clad,  and 
sometimes  mounted  upon  an  old  and  half-starved 
horse — wandering  from  place  to  place — preaching 
whenever  he  could  find  listeners — and  attracting 
httle  attention,  except  from  the  younger  members 
of  the  population,  who  used  to  gather  round  him 
with  wondering  eyes,  and  an  evident  disposition  to 
make  themselves  merry  at  his  expense,  which  was 
kept  within  bounds  by  his  fierce  looks,  and  his  ap- 
parent activity  and  strength  of  body.     As  yet  his 


32  MATTHIAS    AND 

proceedings  were  seldom,  if  ever,  mentionea  in  the 
public  prints,  and  although  some  curiosity  existed 
respecting  him,  it  was  confined  to  a  narrow  circle 
of  observers.  By  one  of  these  the  writer  has  been 
favoured  with  the  following  memorandum,  contain- 
ing the  most  explicit  account  of  the  man's  preten- 
sions at  this  epoch  which  he  has  been  able  to  ob- 
tain. 

*'  1  should  think  it  was  about  three  years  ago,  that  I 
was  acquainted  with  a  lodger  in  the  same  house  with 
Matthias,  near  the  Battery.  My  friend  was  desi- 
rous that  I  should  have  a  conversation  with  the 
prophet,  as  they  called  him,  and  managed  that  an 
interview  should  take  place  at  the  tea-table.  I 
treated  him  with  great  respect,  and  used  no  small 
degree  of  delicacy  in  my  questions  ;  this  deference 
seemed  to  win  his  confidence,  and  he  gave  me  some- 
thing of  his  creed.  I  followed  up  my  inquiries  in 
a  second  interview,  but  found  that  he  had  in  some 
measure  changed  his  ground  ;  but  taking  all  that  he 
said  together,  as  far  as  such  incongruities  could  be 
put  together,  it  was  this  : — That  from  time  to  time 
God  had  sent  his  messenger  on  earth  to  enlighten 
mankind,  from  Moses  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  from 
him  to  Matthias  himself.  Of  his  own  nature 
he  spoke  freely :  he  acknowledged  that  he  be- 
longed to  the  human  race,  but  had  been  set  apart  as 
a  chosen  vessel  to  be  filled  with  inspiration  of  a 
lesser  or  greater  degree,  as  the  Father  directed 
his  services  ;  and  that  sometimes  he  was  ordered 
to  speak  in  the  first  person.  He  did  not  appear  to 
have  a  very  extensive  knowledge  of  the  Bible  in 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  33 

general ;  his  recollection  of  the  prophecies  was 
good.  He  was  particularly  fond  of  quoting  from 
Isaiah,  and  more  than  insinuated  that  the  prophecies 
concerning  the  Messiah,  which  he  quoted,  were 
said  of  him  and  his  mission.  He  seemed  vain  of 
his  person,  and  quite  charmed  with  his  beard.  On 
my  pushing  a  few  questions  a  little  closer  on  my 
next  visit,  he  became  quite  cautious  of  committing 
himself,  and  I  found  it  would  be  useless  for  me  to 
spend  any  more  time  on  him  and  his  creed.  I 
thought  him  to  be  more  of  a  knave  than  a  fool ;  but 
still,  I  believe,  at  that  time,  he  was  a  dupe  to  his 
own  fraud,  as  the  actor  made  himself  crazy  by  so 
often  repeating  the  character  of  the  madman." 

Thus  much,  of  Matthews  himself,  must  suffice  for 
the  present :  before  his  further  progress  can  be  in- 
telligibly developed,  it  is  necessary  to  take  up  a  dif- 
ferent chain  of  events,  and  show  how  perfectly  and 
strangely  withal  the  way  had  been  prepared  for  his 
reception  by  others,  who  knew  nothing  of  him,  and 
of  whom,  at  that  time,  he  had  never  heard. 


34  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  II. 

Antecedent  Events  in  New-York — Mrs.  *  *  *,  the  Leader  of  a 
Fanatical  Sect  in  that  City — Female  Dress — Singular  Do- 
mestic Missionary  Scheme  of  certain  Ladies — Effect  of  Fa- 
naticism upon  Parental  Affection — Organization  of  the  Holy 
Club — Claims  to  Miraculous  Gifts — Anointing  and  heahng 
the  Sick — Notice  of  the  early  Life  and  Religious  Course  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger — The  Retrenchment  Society — A  rich 
Anchorite. 

"Behold  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth," 
says  the  Apostle  James,  in  reference,  particularly, 
to  the  great  strifes  often  engendered  by  a  little  mis- 
use of  the  tongue.  The  axiom,  however,  may  be 
applied  in  various  ways,  and  it  is  thought  will  not 
be  inapplicable  to  the  case  immediately  in  hand. 

About  the  year  1821-22,  Mrs.  ^-  *  *,  a  lady  who 
had  but  a  short  time  previous  been  admitted  a 
member,  on  profession,  of  one  of  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  of  New- York, 
began  to  manifest  a  spirit  of  unwelcome  censorious- 
ness  towards  other  members  of  the  same  church. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  a  clergyman,  long  retired 
from  the  pulpit,  however,  but  a  devout  and  holy 
man — of  a  most  lovely  disposition — unostentatious 
in  his  manners  and  pretensions — full  of  charity  and 
good  works — and  in  all  respects  one  of  the  most 
amiable  and  interesting  men  with  whom  it  has  been 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  36 

the  happiness  of  the  writer  to  be  acquainted.  The 
daughter  was  of  a  gay  and  cheerful  disposition  ;  and, 
on  making  a  profession  of  religion,  was  esteemed 
as  one  who  would  adorn  the  Christian  character  by 
contributing  to  its  loveliness  and  good  report.  But 
she  soon  became  gloomy  and  ascetic,  and  assumed 
a  severity  of  aspect  and  conversation  which  occa- 
sioned not  a  little  surprise.  These  indications  were 
presently  followed  by  a  spirit  of  fanaticism,  which 
was  manifested  in  various  ways.  She  first  directed 
her  attention  to  what  she  considered  the  gayety  and 
extravagance  of  female  dress,  and  denounced  the 
plumes  upon  the  hat  of  a  lady  who  had  been  a  pro- 
fessor before  her,  and  indeed  had  affectionately  in- 
vited her  attention  to  religious  subjecrs  before  she 
had  herself  turned  her  thoughts  in  that  direction. 
She  next  visited  her  pastor,  and  demanded  a  re- 
formation in  the  wardrobes  of  the  ladies  of  his  house- 
hold. Gaining  over  two  or  three  other  ladies  to 
her  views,  further  efforts  were  made  by  them  in  the 
same  line  of  reform  ;  and  so  much  began  to  be  said 
upon  the  subject,  that  the  clergyman  referred  to 
preached  a  sermon  upon  female  dress — which  was 
published — and  being  a  judicious  and  very  able  per- 
formance, has  ever  since  been  well  received  by  the 
Christian  public. 

The  lady,  with  a  small  coterie  of  proselytes,  then 
conceived  the  project  of  a  speedy  conversion  of  the 
whole  city  by  a  system  of  female  visitation  ;  in  exe- 
cution of  which,  every  house  and  family  was  to  be 
visited  by  committees  of  two,  who  were  to  enter 
houses  indiscriminately,  and  pray  for  their  conver- 


36  MATTHIAS    AND 

sion,  whether  the  inmates  would  hear  or  not.  They 
were  encouraged  in  this  wild  scheme  of  rehgious 
knight-errantry  by  the  appearance  among  us,  just 
at  that  time,  of  an  itinerant  clergyman  by  the  name 
of  T — u — r,  a  gentleman  of  great  zeal,  who  main- 
tained no  inconsiderable  degree  of  popularity  among 
the  ultra  religionists  of  New-York  for  some  eighteen 
months,  or  two  years.  By  the  exertions  of  the 
ladies  referred  to,  and  his  own,  a  large  meeting  of 
females  was  collected,  and  he  addressed  them  at 
great  length — urging  upon  all  female  professors  the 
duty  of  immediate  organization  and  action  for  these 
visitations — quoting  the  examples  of  Tryphena  and 
Tryphosa,  with  as  much  confidence  as  though  they 
were  in  point — and  succeeding  in  the  end,  so  far 
as  to  obtain  a  number  of  volunteers  to  go  forth  upon 
this  novel  system  of  domestic  missions.  And  here 
it  is  proper  to  state,  that  it  was  distinctly  understood 
by  these  well-intentioned  but  misguided  ladies,  that 
every  dwelling-house  was  to  be  visited,  not  except- 
ing even  the  public  hotels,  which,  like  private 
houses,  were  indiscriminately  to  be  entered  and 
prayed  in  and  for.  The  writer  well  remembers 
conversing  at  the  time  with  several  ladies  who  were 
engaged  in  the  enterprise,  and  remonstrating ,  with 
them  against  so  wild  and  ill-judged  a  measure. 
Nevertheless,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  work  was 
commenced,  and  the  eminent  clergyman  who  had 
delivered  the  finished  discourse  already  spoken  of, 
upon  female  apparel,  was  among  the  first  to  receive 
a  visit  from  the  lady  who  was  at  the  bottom  of  the 
whole  enterprise,  with  an  associate ;  and  before  he 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  37 

could  recover  from  his  surprise,  these  missionaries 
were  praying  for  his  own  conversion,  within  his  own 
domicil.  The  first  visit  of  another  of  these  com- 
mittees was  made  to  the  family  of  a  very  pious  and 
devout  missionary,  then  recently  returned  from  his 
station  in  the  East  Indies  for  his  health.  This 
work,  we  believe,  was  speedily  brought  to  a  close, 
and  the  evangelist  who  took  such  an  active  part  in 
its  commencement  has  done  so  little  honour  to  his 
profession  in  subsequent  years,  as  to  attract  the  no- 
tice, and  receive  the  discipline,  of  the  church. 

In  the  mean  while,  and  for  a  considerable  time  af- 
terward, the  lady-principal  of  the  concern  not  only 
caused  much  trouble  to  her  own  church  by  the  extra- 
vagance of  her  conduct,  but  rendered  her  friends  and 
relatives  around  her  unhappy.  Her  venerable  and 
excellent  father  was  grieved  to  the  heart  at  her 
course,  which  he  could  not  restrain  ;  and  for  attempt- 
ing to  do  so,  was  only  denounced  as  having  no  re- 
ligion himself.  Her  husband,  moreover,  rendered 
miserable  by  her  course,  and  supposing  that  her 
fanaticism  had  been  induced  by  her  clergyman,  be- 
came highly  exasperated  against  him. 

In  the  year  1823,  or  early  in  1824,  and  while 
these  proceedings  were  yet  enacting,  the  good  old 
gentleman  was  called  to  his  rest ;  and  the  lady 
whose  plumes  had  given  offence  to  his  daughter 
penned  a  tribute  to  his  memory  in  the  shape  of  a 
biographical  obituary  notice  of  some  length,  which 
was  published.  In  that  notice,  she  had  spoken  of 
the  deceased,  whom  she  dearly  loved,  as  a  Chris- 
tian ;  and,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  by  so  doing 
D 


38  MATTHIAS    AND 

she  again  provoked  the  daughter,  who  now  declared 
that  the  writer  of  an  article  pronouncing  her  father 
a  Christian  could  be  no  Christian  herself.  Indeed, 
a  spirit  of  severity  and  bitterness — of  censure  and 
denunciation — towards  all  professing  Christians  who 
did  not  walk  agreeably  to  their  standard,  was  now 
indulged,  not  only  by  the  lady  superior,  but  by 
her  disciples,  which  was  very  unlike  the  virtue  of 
Christian  charity  so  eloquently  commended  by  Paul, 
in  his  first  address  to  the  Corinthians  :  and  with  the 
claim  of  superior  sanctity  was  unhed  an  affectation 
of  plairmess  of  attire,  in  the  assumption  of  which 
there  was  obviously  more  of  spiritual  pride  thai  ac- 
companied the  richest  dress  in  the  city.  One  of 
the  coterie,  a  lady  of  wealth,  having  divested  her 
cap  of  its  lace,  actually  called  upon  her  pastor,  to 
know  whether  he  had  observed  her  humility  !  She 
and  her  associates  seemed  to  have  forgotten  another 
injunction  of  the  great  Apostle, — "  Let  nothing  be 
done  through  strife  or  vainglory ;  hut  in  lowliness 
of  mindset  each  esteem  other  better  than  themselves.'''' 
But  it  may  be  inquired,  What  possible  connection 
can  these  details,  concerning  different  persons,  and 
at  a  comparatively  distant  period  of  time,  have  with 
Matthews  the  impostor  1  The  connection,  it  is 
conceived,  will  be  obvious  long  before  this  narrative 
of  human  weakness  and  imperfection  will  be  ended. 
We  are  illustrating  the  progress  of  fanaticism  and 
delusion ;  in  doing  which,  the  most  natural,  as  well 
as  philosophical,  method  is,  to  ascertain  the  cause, 
and  trace  it  to  its  effect.  The  narrative  is  therefore 
resumed. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  39 

The  next  stage  of  the  delusion  under  review  was 
still  more  extraordinary.  It  was  the  spontaneous 
formation,  in  the  year  1825,  of  an  association,  com- 
posed of  members  of  the  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  and 
Methodist  churches — the  greater  number  from  the 
latter,  although  among  those  from  the  former  was 
the  moving  spirit  of  the  proceedings  already  detailed 
in  the  present  chapter.  It  was  not  confined,  how- 
ever, as  before,  principally  to  "  the  female  brethren" 
of  the  churches,  but  several  gentlemen  of  standing 
and  reputed  piety  were  of  the  number — some  of 
whom  became  the  leaders  of  the  association.  The 
objects  of  the  association  were  social  prayer,  mutual 
exhortations,  and  familiar  expositions  of  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  it  was  alleged  that  they  came  out  from 
among^their  respective  churches  because  of  their 
comparative  lack  of  piety.  They  arrogated  to  them- 
selves more  holiness  than  was  possessed  by  others, 
and  therefore  consorted  thus  together,  holding  their 
meetings  alternately  at  the  houses  of  the  respective 
members,  of  whom,  at  one  time,  they  numbered 
from  thirty  to  forty.  Nor  were  they  drawn  from  the 
lowest  and  most  ignorant  walks  of  life,  like  the  fol-. 
lowers  of  Joanna  Southcote  and  the  miserable  Mor-. 
mons,  but  were  for  the  most  part  well-informed  and 
highly  respectable  persons,  of  both  sexes,  among 
whom  were  several  professional  gentlemen  of  celeb- 
rity. Of  their  doings  and  their  creed,  the  following 
facts  have  been  noted  down  from  the  lips  of  those 
who  were  cognizant  of  their  proceedings. 

They  began  with  exclusive  pretensions  to  holi- 
ness, and  proceeded  step  by  step,  as  fanaticism  al- 


40  MATTHIAS    AND 

ways  does,  until  they  claimed  extraordinary  gifts  in 
the  interpretation-  of  prophecy — professed  to  have 
found  the  key  to  the  hitherto  sealed  book  of  the 
Apocalypse — and  even  laid  claim  to  the  power  of 
working  miracles  through  the  piayer  of  faith. 

Their   meetings   were    usually  opened   by   Mr. 

,  one  of  their  leaders,  who  proclaimed  that  it 

was  an  assemblage  in  the  exercises  of  which  all  were 
allowed  to  participate,  but  none  must  speak  unless 
specially  moved  thereto  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  was 
also  sometimes  stated  that  questions  were  open  for 
discussion ;  but  did  any  one,  not  being  full  in  their 
faith,  venture  to  doubt,  question,  or  oppose  them, 
the  leader  would  reply,  and  sometimes  abuse  them 
with  great  harshness.  Their  preaching  was  called 
prophesying.  They  believed  in  dreams  and  visions, 
and  related  them  for  comment  and  interpretation. 

They  did  not  believe  in  the  special  observance  of 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  but  maintained  that  all  days 
were  alike.  They  did  not  believe  in  the  institution 
of  marriage,  but  maintained  that  a  single  life  was 
essential  to  purity  and  holiness,  and  that  married 
people  could  not  really  serve  the  Lord.  Some  of 
them  went  so  far  as  to  maintain  that  all  marriage- 
bonds  were  dissolved.  One  very  respectable  lady, 
whose  husband  belonged  to  the  association,  and  who 
had  herself  become  partially  infected  by  the  mania, 
was  restored  to  her  right  mind  in  a  rather  singular 
manner.  Two  or  three  of  the  unmarried  sisterhood 
paid  her  a  visit  one  day,  and  almost  broke  her  heart, 
by  informing  her  that  her  husband  was  not  her  hus- 
band— at  least,  that  he  would  not  be  her  husband 


HIS    IMPOSTURES  41 

any  longer.  This  bold  invasion  of  her  conjugal 
rights  dissipated  the  delusion  which  had  begun  to 
steal  over  her. 

It  happened,  however,  in  process  of  time,  that  two 
of  their  most  zealous  leaders,  who  inveighed  the 
most  strongly  against  matrimony,  actually  married 
members  of  the  association.  On  one  occasion,  one 
of  them,  after  speaking  very  decidedly  against  marr 
riage — although  he  himself  had  once  been  married— 
was  seen  to  give  his  arm  to  a  young  lady,  on  leav- 
ing the  meeting,  and  escort  her  home.  A  complaint 
was  made  against  him  at  the  next  meeting,  and  he 
was  brought  to  the  confessional — and  obtained  for- 
giveness, if  not  absolution,  by  an  apology.  He 
nevertheless  married  the  woman  afterward. 

They  did  not  believe  in  a  final  day  of  judgment, 
but  maintained  that  mankind  were  judged  for  their 
deeds  every  day.  At  one  of  these  meetings,  when 
this  tenet  was  the  subject  of  their  devotional  medita- 
tions, a  lady-orator  became  apparently  almost  frantic. 
She  screamed  wildly — for  both  sexes  "  prophesied," 
and  their  meetings  were  sometimes  very  noisy — and 
danced  back  and  forth  across  the  room,  declaring, 
"  This  is  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ — the  Judge  is 
now  on  the  throne,  and  he  is  judging  every  one  of 

you  ?202(?." 

They  vvere  also  Perfectionists.  On  one  occa- 
sion, one  of  the  perfect  ladies  proclaimed  that  she 
was  even  then  standing  on  the  sea  of  glass,  and 
holding  converse  with  God.  She  declared  that  she 
held  sweet  communion  with  him  daily — conversing 
with  him,  "  face  to  face."  At  another  meeting,  one 
D2 


42  MATTHIAS    AND 

of  the  male  members  declared  that  he  had  not  had  a 
single  temptation  for  ten  years — dwelling  much 
upon  his  own  perfection,  the  strength  of  his  faith, 
&c.  At  the  next  convocation,  however,  he  was 
obseiTcd  to  sit  silent  and  moody  in  the  back  part 
of  the  room.  Towards  the  close  of  the  evening,  he 
rose,  and  with  a  heavy  heart  announced  that  he  had 
on  that  very  evening  been  grievously  tempted. 
From  the  moment  he  entered  the  apartment,  he  said, 
he  had  wished  them  all  to  fall  down  and  worship 
him.  It  was  indeed  a  sore  temptation ;  he  wept, 
confessed  his  fault,  and  obtained  relief. 

They  also  behoved  in  their  power,  through  the 
prayer  of  faith,  to  heal  the  sick,  as  by  miracle :  and 
in  several  cases,  one  of  their  leaders,  Mr. ,  pro- 
ceeded to  anoint  the  bodies  of  the  sick,  in  obedience, 
as  they  supposed,  to  the  injunction  of  the  Apostle 
James  ;  forgetting,  or  not  knowing,  that  that  in- 
junction was  prescribed  only  for  observance  during 
the  Apostolic  age.  The  facts  and  circumstances 
attending  one  of  these  cases  are  well  known  to  the 
writer,  and  are  withal  so  peculiar,  that  the  particulars 
will  be  briefly  stated — especially  as  they  serve  for- 
cibly to  illustrate  the  strength  with  which  the  delu- 
sion had  already  fastened  upon  the  minds  of  the 
members.  Among  the  number,  a  friend  of  the 
^vriter,  and  a  very  excellent  man,  who  is  no  doubt — 
his  error  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding — now  rejoic- 
ing in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  was  for  a  long  time 
§ick,  and  apparently  nigh  unto  death.  While  thus 
prostrate  upon  his  bed,  receiving  the  affectionate  at- 
tentions of  his  wife,  Mr. one  day  told  the 


HIS    IZrlPOSTURES.  43 

latter  that  the  Lord  had  promised  to  raise  her  hus- 
band from  his  sickness,  in  answer  to  his  prayers. 
He  added,  that  if  she  would  promise  him  to  serve 
the  Lord  with  her  whole  heart  all  the  days  of  her 
life,  and  join  with  him  in  prayer,  it  should  be  done, 
and  her  husband  should  be  restored  to  health. 
The  lady  replied  that  she  would  make  no  promises 
to  man  upon  such  a  subject — that  it  was  to  her  God 
she  went  with  her  cares,  and  to  him  alone — adding, 
in  answer  to  his  importunities,  like  a  woman  of  good 
sense,  as  she  is,  the  question,  "  If,  as  you  say,  the 
Lord  has  promised  this  great  work  in  answer  to  ijoitr 
prayers,  what  difference  can  it  make  whether  I  com- 
ply with  your  request  or  not  ?"     Mr. then  left 

her,  and  informed  the  sick  man  that  it  was  owing 
to  his  v/ife's  obstinacy  that  he  was  not  healed.  The 
poor  man,  debilitated  in  body  and  in  mind,  by  long 
and  severe  illness,  believed  the  suggestion ;  and 
calling  his  wife  to  his  bedside,  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
conjured  her  not  to  be  so  hard-hearted  and  cruel,  as 
thus  to  persist  in  preventing  his  recovery !  At 
length,  however,  the  difficulty  was  surmounted.  By 
a  small  meeting  of  the  leaders  of  the  sect  around 
his  bed,  he  was  anointed  with  oil,  with  solemn  reli- 
gious services.  The  disease  soon  afterward  took 
a  favourable  turn,  and  the  sick  man  was  eventually . 
restored  to  comfortable,  though  never  again  to  ro- 
bust, health.  His  recovery  was  proclaimed  as  a 
miracle,  and  for  a  long  time,  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
writer,  believed  to  be  one  by  the  invalid  himself.  It 
happened,  however,  that  immediately  after  the  anoint- 
ing, Mr. declared  that  he  alone  must  act  as 


44  MATTIHAS    AND 

nurse  and  physician.     The  first  medicine  he  adminis- 
^   tered  was  a  quantity  of  eggs  and  cider,  which  ope- 
JL^-^  rated  as  a  powerful  emetic,  and   doubtless  gave  a 
J  ^,    favourable  turn  to  the  disorder.      Another  case  of 
■   ^jk-     miracle,  performed  in  the  same  way,  was  also  pro- 
Css^'v    claimed  some  time  afterward ;  but  this  was   only 
J       .     completed  by  the  active  treatment  of  a  skilful  phy- 
j    €^     sician,  who  informs  the  writer  that  he  was  called  in 
?    *?^     just   in  season,  through  Providence,  to   rescue  the 
4       I     patient  from   the  grave.      Still  it  is  very  possible 
f    •  •     that  temporary  relief  was  in  both  cases  attributable 
i/^     to  the  influence  of  a  strong  imagination,  impressed 
j.      t     with  the  assurance   of  recovery.      Such   was    un- 
l  doubtedly  the  fact  in  regard  to  the  pretended  mira- 

ig^  ^'     cles   contended  for  by  Mr.  Hume,  as  having  been 
I    *■-     performed  at  the   tomb  of  Thomas  a  Becket,  and 
^   tr'     elsewhere.     Those  said  to  have  been  performed  in 
i .  *i^.     Europe  some  years  since,  when  the  French  were 
I     ,     running  wild  on  the  subject  of  animal  magnetism, 
I    ^-     were  occasioned  by  the  operation  of  the  same  prin- 
*^     ciple.     So,  also,  in  the  case  of  the  young  lady,  Miss 
-^  4    I  Campbell,  said  to  have  been  miraculously  healed  by 
•  S   I  Edward  Irving  ;  to  v/hich  may  be  added,  the  pre- 
J      tended  miracles  of  Prince  Hohenlohe.     Indeed,  hun- 
dreds and  thousands  of  instances  might  be  cited,  in 
ant     which  diseases,  probably  in  themselves  in  a  great 
^      measure  imaginary,  have  been  alleviated  or  dispelled 
by  working  upon  the  imagination.      But  at  the  same 
time,  equally  well  attested  cases  might  be  cited,  in 
which  diseases,  and  even  death,  have   been  super-f 
induced  by  the  same  means. 

Such  W£|,s  the  association  of  enthusiasts  and  fa- 


HIS  impostures:  45 

natics  formed  in  1825.  By  what  name  it  was  recog- 
nised in  its  own  circle,  or  whether  it  had  any  particular 
title,  is  not  known  to  the  writer.  By  the  profane, 
it  was  sometimes  called  "  The  Holy  Club."  It  did 
not,  however,  continue  long.  Its  extravagances  be- 
came such,  that  its  most  respectable  members  fell 
off,  and  it  was  at  length  entirely  dissolved.  Its 
male  leaders  manied,  and  have  since  been  indulging 
in  the  dreams,  and  reveries,  and  visionary  specula- 
tions of  Emanuel  Swedenborg. 

Preserving,  as  far  as  possible,  the  regular  order 
of  events,  without  losing  sight,  as  we  must  not,  of 
the  active  and  almost  omnipresent  female  spirit  who 
was  first  in  the  delusion,  and  the  means  of  bringing 
and  keeping  others  therein,  the  reader  must  now  be 
introduced  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  H.  Folger, 
whose  names  have  so  frequently  appeared  before 
the  public  of  late,  in  connection  with  those  of  Mat- 
thews and  his  other  victims.  Mr.  Folger  has  been 
known  to  the  writer  from  the  days  of  his  boyhood, 
when  both  were  residents  of  Hudson.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  amiable  and  intelligent  lads  of  his  time, 
and  grew  up  to  man's  estate,  full  of  activity  and  en- 
terprise, and  endowed  with  those  estimable  qualities 
which,  united  to  an  excellent  capacity  for  business, 
and  sound  principles  of  integrity,  secured  for  him 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  commenced  business  in  the  city  of  New- York 
about  the  year  1821,  and  with  the  qualifications  and 
advantages  just  described,  his  commercial  career 
was  not  only  successful,  but  prosperous  to  a  degree. 
He  was  married  in  1823,  to  a  young  lady  who  was 


46  MATTHIAS    AND 

reared  in  the  bosom  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church, 
accustomed  from  her  childhood  to  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  and  the  reading  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  taught  to  cultivate  religious  impressions, 
and  cheribh  a  devotional  spirit,  by  a  pious  mother. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage,  neither  Mr.  Folger 
nor  his  wife  was  a  professor  of  religion.  Among 
the  relatives  present  on  the  happy  occasion  was 
Mrs.  "*  *  *, — the  lady  to  whom  such  frequent  refer- 
ence has  already  been  made,  and  who,  as  the  inas- 
/er-spirit  of  most  of  the  proceedings  to  be  recorded, 
must  yet  be  spoken  of  still  more  frequently.  Hav- 
ing previously,  however,  been  the  cause  of  great 
pain  in  the  circle  of  her  relatives  and  friends,  by  rea- 
son of  her  religious  enthusiasm,  or  fanaticism,  as  it 
was  more  justly  called,  at  Mr.  Folger's  suggestion 
there  was  a  distinct  understanding  that  her  peculiar 
views  upon  this  subject  were  never  to  be  introduced 
into  his  family.  Under  this  compact,  she  continued 
a  frequent  visiter  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Folger,  and 
obtained  great  influence  over  the  mind  of  his  lady, 
for  which  purpose  her  effbrts  were  unceasing.  In 
the  year  1825,  while  sitting  under  the  preaching  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Dubpis,  Mrs.  Folger  became  a  hopeful 
convert  to  Christianity,  and  a  member  of  his  church. 
Her  religious  experience  had  been  such  as  to  render 
her  feelings  peculiarly  tender  and  susceptible.  The 
cares  of  her  mother,  at  that  interesting  period,  de- 
prived the  daughter  of  her  judicious  counsel  and  ex- 
ample; and  while  thus  circumstanced,  before  her 
friends  had  discerned  the  approach  of  error,  it  was 
discovered  that  Mrs,  *  *  ^^  had  not  only  obtained 


Ills    IMPOSTURES.  47 

almost  the  entire  control  of  her  mind,  but  had 
already  made  her  a  convert  to  her  own  peculiar  and 
most  unfortunate  views  of  Christian  duty  and  prin- 
ciple. Her  warfare  apjainst  all  superfluous  or  orna- 
mental articles  of  dress  was  yet  waiied,  as  in  the 
early  part  of  her  fanatical  career ;  and  her  young 
disciple  was  persuaded  in  all  respects  to  conform  to 
her  notions  upon  this  subject.  No  article  of  apparel 
was  allowed  beyond  the  requirements  of  decency, 
to  which  were  added  various  austere  observances, 
abstinence,  fasting,  &c.  One  day  in  every  week 
was  strictly  observed  as  a  fast ;  and  the  season  was 
occasionally  extended  to  three,  or  perhaps  changed 
to  a  whole  week  of  rigid  diet  upon  bread  and  water. 
These  observances  were  instituted  to  humble  their 
own  souls,  and  increase  their  zeal  and  their  faith  in 
labours  and  intercessions  for  the  souls  of  others. 
It  was  at  this  period  that  Mrs.  Folger's  spiritual 
guide  began  to  claim  revelations  from  heaven  ;  or, 
in  other  words,  the  direct  teachings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  in  regard  as  well  to  all  her'own  personal  con- 
cernments, as  to  the  affairs  of  the  church :  and  in 
order  that  the  connection  may  not  escape  attentioji, 
it  is  Well  here  to  remind  the  reader,  that  we  are 
now  speaking  of  events  occurring  simultaneously 
with  the  proceedings  of  "  The  Holy  C/.ub,^^  already 
described  in  the  present  chapter,  with  which,  as  has 
been  previously  stated,  Mrs.  *  *  *  was  connected. 
Having  thus  overcome  all  opposition  upon  the 
subject  of  her  reli^jious  views,  and  obtained  complete 
and  entire  ascendency  in  spiritual  matters  in  his 
family,  the  house  of  Mr.  Folger  was  for  a  long  time 


48  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  centre  of  her  operations ;  and  female  prayer- 
meetings  were  held  there  on  any,  and  sometimes 
every,  day  and  evening  of  the  week.  These  meet- 
ings were  numerously  attended ;  but  notwithstanding 
the  spirit  in  which  they  originated,  and  the  unpromis- 
ing Christian  character  of  the  lady-principal,  they 
are,  nevertheless,  believed  to  have  been  productive 
of  lasting  good  upon  the  minds  of  some  of  those 
who  mingled  in,  and  participated  with  them.  If 
such  was  the  fact,  there  is  cause  of  gratitude  to  that 
Being  who  is  able  to  overrule  all  things  for  good. 
^^  JYotivithsfanding  every  luay,'"  says  Paul  to  the 
Philippians,  ^Hvheiher  in  j^retence  or  in  truths  Christ 
is  preached ;  and  therein  I  do  rejoice^  yea,  and  will 
rejoiced  And  here  it  must  be  noted,  that  among 
the  ladies  most  earnestly  engaged  in  those  meetings 
was  the  late  Mrs.  Sarah  Pierson,  the  wife  of  the 
late  Elijah  Pierson. 

Having  removed  to  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  and 
connected  himself  with  the  congregation  of  the  Gar- 
den-street church,  Mr.  Folger  became  a  convert  to 
Christianity  in  1827,  under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Matthews,  and  attached  himself  to  his  church, 
of  which  he  proved  himself  an  intelligent,  active, 
and  exemplary  member.  In  1829,  he  was  one  of 
those  who  projected  and  established  the  Dey-street 
church,  and  one  of  the  four  who  united  in  calling 
the  Rev.  Joel  Parker  from  Rochester  to  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  that  congregation.  But  it  will  pres- 
ently be  seen  that  he  did  not  remain  in  that  con- 
nection. 

Some  time  previous  to  the  year  1829,  Mrs.  *  *  * 


His  impostures.  40 

had  removed  to  the  Bowery  Hill,  which  has  recently- 
been  dug  down,  but  upon  which,  at  that  period,  stood 
a  range  of  houses,  isolated  as  it  were  from  the  city, 
pleasantly  situated,  and  deeply  imbosomed  in  an  al- 
most continuous  grove  of  ornamental  trees  and  shrub- 
bery. It  was  a  sweet  sylvan  retreat  from  the  city, 
and  in  all  respects  a  desirable  place  of  residence, 
especially  for  the  summer.  Mr.  Folger  had  made 
arrangements  for  permanently  residing  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city  ;  but  the  continued  intimacy  of  Mrs* 

*  *  *  having  increased  her  influence,  until  at  length 
it  had  become  paramount  in  his  domestic  as  well  as 
religious  affairs,  he  was  induced  to  change  his  plans. 
It  was  the  strong  desire  of  this  lady  that  he  should 
remove  to  the  Bowery  Hill ;  and  having  been  taught 
by  the  Spirit  that  it  was  his  duty  to  do  so,  she  suc- 
ceeded in  persuading  him  into  the  measure.  Not 
only  that,  but  she  was  also  taught  by  the  Spirit  that 
it  was  his  duty  to  sell  his  fashionable  furniture,  and 
substitute  therefor  merely  the  plainest  articles  of 
necessity — with  all  of  which  requirements  of  "  the 
Spirit"  he  complied,  and  removed  accordingly.  Mr. 
Pierson  also  resided  at  Bowery  Hill  at  the  same 
time,  and  several  other  families  and  individuals  in 
that  portion  of  the  city,  who  were  disciples  and  fol- 
lowers of  Mrs.  *  *  *. 

It  was  here,  and  in  the  same  year,  that  the  cele- 
brated "  Retrenchment  Society^^  was  devised  by  Mrs. 

*  *•  *,  and  organized  under  the  influence  of  a  tract 
which  she  wrote,  and  under  her  own  immediate 
auspices.  This  event  marks  the  next  stage  in  the 
progress  of  the  delusion  under  which,  at  a  subse- 

E 


60  MATTHIAS    AND 

quent  period,  so  many  persons  became  the  victims 
of  Matthews.  The  members  were  bound  to  abstain 
reUgiously  from  all  costly  articles  of  dress  or  furni- 
ture— to  wear  no  ornaments  or  jewels — and  to  eat 
no  cake,  pastry,  sweetmeats,  or  butter — to  drink 
neither  tea  nor  coffee — and,  in  short,  to  deny  them- 
selves all  the  luxuries  and  most  of  the  comforts  of 
life.  In  the  list  of  the  proscribed  articles  of  furni- 
ture were,  all  articles  made  of  mahogany  or  brass  ; 
all  pictures,  looking-glasses,  carpets,  curtains,  sofas, 
or  rich  furniture  of  any  description.  And  in  addi- 
tion to  these  inhibitions,  they  were  to  fast  two  or 
three  whole  days  in  every  week.  This  last  rule 
was  most  rigidly- enforced — even  upon  the  tender 
pupils  of  a  school  taught  by  one  of  the  ladies,  who, 
it  is  said,  were  compelled  to  fast  with  her,  until  they 
would  cry  for  hours  after  bread  and  water — until,  in 
fact,  in  some  instances,  they  were  made  sick  by 
their  abstinence. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  infatuation  which, 
in  the  present  age,  could  lead  to  the  formation  of 
such  a  society  of  anchorites,  was  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  the  small  circle  of  visionary  women  in  which 
it  originated.  It  embraced  at  one  time  a  consider- 
able number  of  members.  Some  of  them  lived  in 
fine  houses  in  the  most  fashionable  parts  of  the  city. 
They  sold  their  best  and  most  fashionable  and 
showy  furniture  ;  and  a  religious  friend  informs  the 
writer,  that  he  recollects  seeing  one  of  them — a  very 
wealthy  citizen,  living  in  a  splendid  mansion  worth 
at  least  twenty  thousand  dollars — at  supper  in  his 
spacious  parlour  one  evening,  with  nothing  upon 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  61 

the  table  but  a  decanter  of  cold  water,  a  loaf  of 
brown,  and  a  few  pieces  of  gingerbread,  ^v^th  three 
or  four  raw  apples.  This  was  the  homely  fare  of 
an  opulent  member  of  the  Retrenchment  Society, 
who  doubtless  thought  that  he  was  doing  God  ser- 
vice— forgetting  that  consistency  would  have  re- 
quired him  to  exchange  his  palace  for  a  cottage,  and 
distribute  all  his  goods,  saving  only  enough  for  the 
purchase  of  his  stinted  fare,  among  the  poor,  or  in 
aid  of  the  kingdom  of  that  Master  whom  he  was  no 
doubt  sincerely  desirous  to  serve.  The  delusion 
of  the  gentleman  referred  to  has  since  taken  a  dif- 
Jferent  and  less  inoffensive  turn. 

Such  is  a  brief  history  of  the  "  Retrenchment 
Society,"  of  which,  remembering  the  circumstances 
in  which  he  stood,  the  almost  total  submission  of  liis 
lady  to  the  dictates  of  its  founder,  Mrs.  *  *  *,  and 
the  zeal  with  which  she  complied  with  all  its  requisi- 
tions, the  reader  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  to  learn 
that  Mr.  Folger  was  not  a  member. 


62  iMATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  III. 

Characters  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elijah  Pierson— Commencement  of 
their  Religious  Enthusiasm — He  conceives  a  project  for  Con- 
verting the  City  and  the  World— Convenes  the  Clergy — Re- 
markable visit  to  his  Pastor— Adopts  notions  at  variance 
with  his  Church — Opinions  against  Renting  Pews,  &c  — 
Separation  from  the  Church  and  Removal  to  Bowery  Hill — 
Joins  Mrs.  *  *  * — Fruitless  attempts  to  Reclaim  him— Ex- 
travagant Proceedmgs — Communications  with  the  Spirit — 
Commences  Preaching — Extracts  from  his  Diary — Sickness 
of  Mrs.  Pierson— A  Vision— Commissioned  as  Elijah  the 
Tishbite— Anointing  of  Mrs.  Pierson— Her  Death— Solemn 
Scenes  at  her  Funeral— Attempt  to  Raise  her  from  the  Dead 
by  the  Prayer  of  Faith— His  Prayer— The  Burial. 

It  has  already  been  stated,  in  the  last  chapter,  that 
among  the  residents  upon  Bowery  Hill,  were  the 
late  Ehjah  Pierson  and  his  family.  Mr.  Pierson 
was  a  native  of  Morristown,  in  New- Jersey.  He 
passed  through  the  several  grades  of  apprentice  and 
clerk  in  the  city  of  New-York,  much  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  his  employers,  and  was  a  highly-respected 
merchant  for  many  years,  enjoying  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintance  among 
business  men.  Amiable,  intelligent,  and  pious,  he 
was  the  devoted  friend  of  religion  and  humanity ; 
and  few  men  spent  more  time  and  money  in  these 
objects,  and  in  the  cause  of  philanthropy,  than  he. 
He  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Brick  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Beekman-street,  and  subsequently 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  63 

an  elder  in  the  Mission  Church  in  Bancker  (now 
Madison)  street.  In  1822,  he  detached  himself 
from  the  Presbyterian  connection,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  South  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he 
was  for  several  years  a  deacon  of  exemplary  char- 
acter and  deportment.  Indeed,  he  would  have  been 
an  honour  to  any  church,  where  meekness,  charity, 
and  an  unostentatious  devotion  to  the  service  of  his 
Master  were  regarded  as  cardinal  virtues.  There 
was  not  asymptom  of  undue  enthusiasm — not  a  parti- 
cle of  fanaticism — about  him  ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  uniformly  regarded  as  an  unusually  judicious,  dis- 
criminating, and  consistent  Christian,  full  of  charity 
and  good  works  ;  and  the  same  characteristics  dis- 
tinguished him  in  all  the  ordinary  concerns  of  life. 
He  was  a  tavourite  among  Christians  of  all  denomi- 
nations ;  and  it  may  be  said,  without  exaggeration, 
that  no  layman  in  New-York  exerted  a  more  salu- 
tary and  holy  influence. 

Mrs.  Pierson  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  John  Stanford,  long  known  to  the  citizens  of 
New- York  as  the  pious,  benevolent,  and,  despite 
his  great  age,  zealous  and  active  Chaplain  to  the 
Penitentiary,  Almshouse,  and  other  public  institu- 
tions. The  daughter,  Sarah,  was,  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Pierson,  a  widow,  and  about 
thirty  years  of  age.  Her  first  marriage  had  been 
unfortunate.  It  took  place  after  an  engagement  of 
six  years ;  this  long  delay  was  caused  by  poverty, 
the  circumstances  of  Mr.  Warner,  for  that  was  the 
name  of  Mrs.  Pierson's  first  husband,  being  such 
as  not  to  justify  him  in  marrying.     He  was  engaged 

£2 


64  MATTHIAS    AND 

in  commercial  pursuits,  and  labouring  hard  to  pro- 
vide himself  with  the  means  of  supporting  a  family. 
Success  at  length  crowned  his  eftbrts,  and  they  were 
married.  Very  soon  after  their  union,  Mr.  Warner 
was  tempted,  by  a  very  advantageous  offer,  to  pro- 
ceed as  supercargo  to  one  of  the  West  India  Islands, 
and  there  died  of  the  yellow  fever ;  and  thus  his 
wife  became  a  widow  ere  she  had  been  six  months 
married.  Her  grief  was  deep  and  lasting ;  but  it 
yielded,  after  the  lapse  of  several  years,  to  the 
assiduities  of  Mr.  Pierson.  The  exact  time  of  her 
second  marriage  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 
In  person,  Miss  Stanford  was  small,  but  grace- 
ful ;  and  her  features,  though  not,  strictly  speaking, 
beautiful,  were  of  a  most  intellectual  cast — full  of 
expression — and  eminently  pleasing.  Her  mind 
was  one  of  a  high  order,  and  it  had  been  exceedingly 
well  cultivated.  Her  conversation  was  remarkably 
interesting,  not  only  from  the  intelligence,  informa- 
tion, and  good  sense  by  which  it  was  characterized, 
but  also,  and  still  more,  from  the  pure  spirit  of  be- 
nevolence and  piety  which  it  invariably  displayed. 
The  kindness  of  her  disposition  was  indeed  remark- 
able ;  the  writer  was  intimately  acquainted  with  her, 
and,  for  nearly  four  years,  in  the  habit  of  seeing  her 
almost  every  day ;  and,  during  all  that  time,  he  can 
truly  say,  that  he  never  heard  her  utter  a  single 
word,  or  knew  her  to  do  a  single  act,  indicative  of 
peevishness,  envy,  ill-humour,  or  any  other  unamia- 
ble  quality.  She  was  mistress  of  several  accom- 
plishments, but  that  in  which  she  most  delighted 
was  music.     Of  this  she  was  a  proficient ;  and  it 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  55 

may  be  mentioned,  as  an  evidence  of  her  fondness 
for  it,  that  she  had  acquired  great  skill,  not  only  on 
the  piano  and  in  singing,  but  also  on  the  flute  and 
flageolet.  She  had  originally  belonged  to  the  Epis- 
copal church ;  but,  with  her  last  husband,  ulti- 
mately joined  the  Baptists. 

Such  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  remarkable  and  un- 
fortunate couple  whose  names  are  closely  interwo- 
ven with  the  residue  of  this  history.  United  and 
happy  in  each  other — possessing  an  abundance  of 
this  world's  goods — with  every  social,  moral,  and  in- 
tellectual quality  that  can  render  life  delightful — the 
hands  of  both  ever  open  to  the  calls  of  the  needy, 
and  the  equally  pressing  demands  of  those  whom 
they  supposed  to  be  hungering  for  the  bread  of  life 
— to  all  human  probability  they  had  a  long  career 
of  usefulness,  virtue,  and  honour  before  them. 
Least  of  all  could  it  have  been  anticipated,  that  their 
suns  should  set  so  soon,  and  go  down,  as  they  did, 
in  gloom  and  sorrow. 

While  a  member  of  the  South  Baptist  church, 
Mr.  Pierson  had  resided  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city.  It  will  have  been  observed  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  that  Mrs.  Pierson  was  one  of  the  ladies  at- 
tending the  multitudinous  female  prayer  meetings 
in  1825,  under  the  auspices  of  Mrs.  *  *  *,  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  B.  H.  Folger.  But  it  is  not  known  that 
she  gave  any  other  evidence  of  religious  extravagance 
until  about  the  year  1828. 

Some  time  previous  to  this  date,  however,  Mr. 
Pierson  conceived  various  extravagant  notions  re- 
epecting  the  practicability  of  converting  the  whole 


56  MATTHIAS    AND 

population  of  the  city :  with  a  view  to  which  project 
he  convened  a  large  number  of  the  clergy  of  differ- 
ent denominations.  At  this  meeting  one  or  more 
of  the  clergymen  thought  they  discerned  the  symp- 
toms of  an  approaching  hallucination,  although  such 
was  not  the  general  impression.  Not  long  after- 
ward, he  called  upon  his  pastor  early  one  morning, 
for  the  purpose  of  conversation  upon  the  same  sub- 
ject, and  evidently  under  great  excitement  of  mind. 
In  this  interview,  which  was  extended  through  the 
whole  day,  he  declared  that  he  had  received  new 
light  upon  spiritual  subjects.  He  went  at  length 
into  a  statement  of  his  newly  acquired  opinions  ; 
and  with  occasional  bursts  of  enthusiasm,  not  to  say 
phrenzy,  would  seize  his  pastor  by  the  hand,  ex- 
claiming, "  These — these  are  the  truths  of  God,  and 
must  not  be  rejected."  His  present  object  was 
the  immediate  conversion  of  the  whole  city,  which 
event,  he  affirmed,  would  be  the  prelude  to  the  con- 
version of  the  whole  world.  He  wished  to  kindle  a 
blaze  in  the  city  of  New-York  that  the  universe 
would  see.  One  of  his  plans  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  noble  enterprise,  was  a  mission  to  Eu- 
rope, for  the  purpose,  as  he  said,  of  revealing  truths 
that  had  never  been  revealed — all  the  world  being, 
in  his  opinion,  yet  involved,  as  it  were,  in  Cimmerian 
darkness.  His  conversation  during  the  day  was,  in 
the  main,  coherent,  and,  with  the  exception  of  his 
extravagant  views  respecting  the  practicability  of  an 
almost  instantaneous  conversion  of  New-York  and 
the  world,  rational — excepting,  moreover,  the  erro- 
neous constructions  which  he  occasionally  put  upon 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  57 

some  of  the  passages  of  Scripture,  with  which  his 
conversation  was  interlarded.  It  was  evident  from 
his  whole  manner,  moreover,  that  he  was  most  sin- 
cerely and  earnestly  bent  upon  the  great  work  he 
had  in  view.  It  was  a  day,  he  said,  which  he  had 
solemnly  set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer  upon  that 
subject ;  and  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
night,  he  was  engaged,  the  entire  time,  in  the  most 
earnest  conversation — refusing  to  partake  of  a  mor- 
sel of  refreshment  during  the  whole  period,  though 
frequently  and  earnestly  requested  to  do  so.  The 
clergyman,  readily  perceiving  what  was  the  state  of 
his  mind,  indulged  him  thus  long,  with  a  view  of  al- 
lowing him  to  expend  his  fervour, — losing  no  avail- 
able opportunity,  however,  of  interposing  such  whole- 
some remarks,  and  imparting  such  advice,  as  he 
judged  most  suitable  to  the  peculiar  case  and  occa- 
sion. But  it  was  all  to  no  purpose,  and  the  unfor- 
tunate man  was  soon  perceived  to  be  verging  farther 
and  yet  farther  in  his  extravagant  views. 

He  began  soon  afterward  to  express  opinions 
which  were  evidently  at  variance  with  the  word  of 
God,  though  at  first  not  heretical,  in  themselves  con- 
sidered. Upon  those  points  his  pastor,  and  other 
religious  friends,  laboured  long  and  faithfully  with 
him, — visiting  his  house  frequently  to  converse  and 
pray  with  him.  But  the  mildness  and  gentleness 
of  his  disposition  seemed  to  be  leaving  him ;  and 
having  avowed  what  were  considered  erroneous  opi- 
nions, it  was  evidently  his  determination  not  to  re- 
tract them, — or  at  least  he  was  very  reluctant  to  do 
so,  notwithstanding  the  clear  and  incontrovertible 


58  MATTHIAS    AND 

arguments  which  from  the  Scriptures  were  produced 
in  opposition  to  his  views.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the 
friends  who  were  then  striving  to  save  him  from 
error  received  the  impression,  that,  aUhough  partially 
convinced  by  their  arguments,  he  was  nevertheless 
determined  not  to  yield  to  the  conviction. 

In  the  year  1828,  both  Mr.  Pierson  and  his  wife 
objected  to  the  practice  of  taking  up  collections  of 
money  in  church  on  the  Lord's  day — believing  it  to 
be  a  profanation  of  holy  time.      They  also  objected 
to  the  practice  of  owning  and  letting  pews  for  the 
exclusive  use  of  proprietors  and  lessees,  and  those 
who  might  be  favoured  with  invitations.      Among 
the  papers  of  Mr.  Pierson,  which  will  be  frequently 
quoted  in  the  progress  of  this  work,  is  a  statement 
of  the  views  of  himself  and  his  wife  upon  these  ques- 
tions, which  seems  to  have  been  drawn  up  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  church.     About  two-thirds  of  this  paper 
is    in   the   handwriting  of  Mrs.  Pierson,   and   was 
written,  as  Mr,  Pierson  states  in  a  note,  "  under  a 
very  powerful  sense  of  the  presence  and  direction 
of  the  Lord."      The  argument  of  the  pew  question 
is  chiefly  founded  upon  the  practice  of  the  primitive 
church,  of  having  all  things  in  common  ;  and  also 
upon  James,  ii.  1 — 4.      "  JMy  hreihrcn^  have  not  the 
faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christy  the  Lord  of  g-lory,  '_ 
ivith  respect  of  persons.  ■  For  if  there  come  into  your 
assembly  a  man  with  a  gold  ring^  in  goodly  apparel^ 
and  there  come  in  also  a  poor  man  in  vile  raiment ; 
and  ye  have  respect  to  him  that  weareth  the  gay 
clothing,  and  say  unto  him,  Sit  thou  here  in  a  good 
place ;  and  say  to  the  poor.  Stand  thou  ihere^  or  sit 


HIS    IMPOSTtJRES.  59 

htre  under  my  footstool :  are  ye  not  then  partial  in 
yourselves^  and  are  become  judges  of  evil  ihoughtsV 
The  argument,  however,  was  not  sufficiently  con- 
vincing to  induce  the  church  to  rehnquish  either  of 
the  practices  of  which  they  had  complained.  Still 
they  yet  continued  their  connection  with  the  church, 
for  upward  of  six  months  ;  and  upon  every  point 
but  those  two,  remained  the  same  affectionate,  kind- 
hearted,  and  humble  members  as  before. 

Prior  to  the  removal  of  the  old  state  prison  from 
Greenwich,  Mr.  Pierson  and  his  wife  had  laboured 
much  of  the  time  for  two  years  in  the  Sunday-schools 
and  among  the  convicts  of  that  establishment ;  count- 
ing self-denial  and  hardship  nothing,  so  that  they 
could  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men.  Nor  were 
their  labours  unattended  with  the  blessing.  After 
the  demolition  of  that  prison,  their  attention  was 
directed  to  the  condition  of  the  degraded  women 
of  the  Five  Points — for  whose  spiritual  welfare  their 
exertions  were  instant  in  season  and  out  of  sea- 
son. Among  the  unsound  and  unscriptural  notions 
which  Mr.  Pierson  now  held,  was  that  of  direct  reve- 
lations to  him  of  the  will  of  God,  through  the  audi- 
ble agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  This  belief,  or  pre- 
tension, it  will  be  recollected,  was  avowed  by  Mrs. 
*  *  *,  with  whom,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  Mrs. 
Pierson  had  been  associated  as  early  as  1825.  Mr. 
Pierson  was  indeed  a  man  of  prayer — of  habitual, 
constant  prayer ;  and  after  he  began  to  entertain 
these  opinions,  it  was  his  daily  habit  to  record  his 
rehgious  exercises, — his  prayers,  and  the  answers 
which  he  received.     These  prayers  were  put  up  on 


60  MATTHIAS    AND 

all  occasions,  upon  every  subject  of  duty  or  busi- 
ness, for  direction  in  every  undertaking,  spiritual  or 
temporal,  and  for  every  person  with  whom  he  trans- 
acted business,  or  was  connected  in  religious  duties. 
There  will  be  occasion  to  draw  frequently  hereafter 
from  these  closet  records,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  specimen.  It  is  without  date  ;  but  from  its  sub- 
ject, it  is  probable  that  it  was  penned  during  the 
labours  of  himself  and  wife  among  the  unfortunate 
females  above  spoken  of. 

Prayed  for  the  harlots  at  Five  Points  :  asked  the  Lord  to  give 
us  all  the  ground  whereon  the  soles  of  our  feet  had  trod,  and  all 
the  souls  now  alive  who  had  heard  our  voices  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood. 

Answer.  The  Lord  said,  "You  must  go  and  fetch  thena  out.*' 
The  Lord  said,  concerning  the  two  witnesses,  "Thou  art  one 
and  Sarah  the  other." 

Their  differences  with  the  South  Baptist  Church 
becoming  yet  wider  and  more  obvious,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pierson  withdrew  from  it,  and  in  the  year  1829 
removed  to  the  Bowery  Hill,  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Mrs.  *  *  *,  from  whom  they  had 
derived  their  recent  views  of  the  direct  teach- 
ings of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  with  whom  their  con- 
nection now  became  more  intimate  than  ever.  It 
was,  indeed,  a  union  of  congenial  spirits ;  and  from 
the  moment  of  that  union,  may  be  dated  the  com- 
mencement of  that  series  of  proceedings  and  meas- 
ures at  the  Bowery  Hill,  which,  going  from  one  step 
to  another  in  fanaticism  and  delusion,  ultimately  pre- 
pared the  way  for  the  advent  of  the  false  prophet 
Matthias. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  61 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  sincere  desire  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierson  to  do  good.  Their  whole 
religious  lives  had  been  spent  in  cultivating  the 
Christian  graces,  and  in  works  of  universal  philan- 
thropy and  benevolence.  But  the  operations  of  the 
Christian  world  were  too  slow  for  them,  and  the  faith 
of  others  did  not  extend  far  enough.  Hence  they  had 
come  out  from  among  their  former  associates,  and 
thought,  with  the  Welsh  preacher,  that  they  could 
set  the  world  in  a  blaze,  while  an  old-fashioned 
Christian  would  be  lighting  his  pipe.  Numbers, 
gathering  round  the  trio,  became  their  disciples,  and 
various  associations  for  objects  of  philanthropy  were 
undertaken.  Among  these  was  a  society  for  the 
education  of  children  of  poor  parents  for  the  Chris- 
tian ministry — as  they  understood  it.'  Several  chil- 
dren were  supported  and  instructed  for  a  time,  but 
the  sickness  which  prevailed  there  in  the  summers, 
broke  up  the  school  in  1830,  and  the  effort  ceased. 
A  sewing  society  was  organized  by  the  females,  the 
profits  of  whose  labours  were  to  be  appropriated  to 
the  support  and  instruction  of  converted  Jews,  who 
were  to  be  sent  forth  as  missionaries.  Mr.  Pierson 
now  commenced  preaching,  and  applied  for  orders 
to  the  denomination  with  which  he  had  been  con- 
nected ;  but  was  refused.  He  nevertheless  con- 
tinued to  preach,  and  converts  were  added  to  his 
flock.  Among  these  were  two  young  Jews,  who 
were  supported  there  for  some  time.  There  was  a 
transaction  connected  with  one  of  them,  who  desired 
to  marry  a  sister  of  the  establishment,  over  which  it 
is  judged  best  to  draw  a  veil.     The  other  went  forth 

F 


62  MATTHIAS    AND 

— upon  a  mission — "  since  which,"  in  the  words  of  One 
of  the  community,  "  nothing  satisfactory  has  been 
heard  of  him."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierson  had  also 
mainly  under  their  direction,  the  celebrated  Magdalen 
Institution,  which  was  located  there,  and  one  of  the 
annual  reports  concerning  which,  made  so  much 
noise,  and  gave  such  marked  dissatisfaction  to  the 
public,  a  year  or  two  afterward.  They  were  like- 
wise with  Mrs.  *  *  *,  its  founder,  foremost  among 
the  members  of  the  memorable  "  Retrenchment  So- 
ciety," of  which  an  account  has  been  given  in  the 
preceding  chapter. 

Feeling  alarmed  at  the  extravagances  into  which 
the  people  at  the  Bowery  Hill  were  running,  and 
especially  at  the  increasing  wildness  of  conduct  mani- 
fested by  Mr.  Pierson,  his  former  pastor  visited  his 
house  often,  with  a  view  of  reclaiming,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, bringing  him  back  to  a  more  rational  course 
of  conduct.  He  was,  however,  generally  absent ; 
but  the  clergyman  found  Mrs.  Pierson  at  home,  and 
in  repeated  conversations  yet  discovered  in  her  a  de- 
lightful state  of  Christian  feeling.  As  matters  evi- 
dently grew  worse,  the  clergyman  just  referred  to, 
with  several  of  his  most  judicious  friends,  resolved 
upon  making  greater  efforts  for  preserving  him  from 
what  was  evidently  an  impending  delirium.  They 
ultimately  succeeded  in  obtaining  several  interviews, 
and  talked  and  prayed  with,  and  for  him,  earnestly. 
But  he  was  not  to  be  diverted  from  the  course  he 
had  marked  out  for  himself,  and  which,  he  said,  duty 
required  of  him.  And  the  writer  is  authorized  here 
to  remark,  that  although  in  his  Christian  character 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  63 

he  had  usually,  and  on  ordinary  occasions,  shown 
himself  one  of  the  most  tractable,  meek,  and  humble 
followers  of  his  Master,  yet  when  he  had  made  a 
promise,  or  determined  upon  a  certain  course  of 
conduct,  he  was  one  of  the  most  intractable  and  ob- 
stinate of  men — seldom  holding  himself  open  to 
conviction,  however  powerful  the  arguments  that 
might  be  addressed  to  him.  His  mind  was  now 
running  upon  what  he  called  "the  kingdom" — 
meaning,  probably,  the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah 
upon  earth.  It  could  be  no  kingdom  until  estab- 
lished upon  the  Bowery  Hill.  The  kingdom  had 
now   come ;    and    consisted   of  himself,   wife    and 

children,  Mrs.  *  *  *,   Mrs.   M ,   Mr.   L , 

Isabella,  the  black-woman,  &c.  On  the  occasion 
of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  he  manifested  more 
than  ordinary  impatience — not  to  use  a  harsher  term. 
But  even  if  irritable  and  impatient  at  times,  espe- 
cially when  over-excited,  the  private  papers  of  few 
Christians  would  bear  stronger  evidence  of  the  ef- 
forts he  made  to  conquer  this  defect  of  his  physical 
temperament,  or  of  the  sorrow  it  evidently  occa- 
sioned him.  As  evidence  of  this  fact,  the  follow- 
ing brief  note  of  a  prayer  upon  this  very  subject, 
and  perhaps  uttered  on  this  very  occasion,  since  it 
is  found  on  a  loose  piece  of  paper,  and  Without  date, 
may  be  adduced.  It  is  accompanied,  as  are  most 
of  his  recorded  prayers,  with  the  answer,  which  he 
believed  tobe  the  audible  response  of  the  Holy  Spirit: 

O,  Lord  Jesus !  I  perceive  that  I  have  failed  in  exercising  a 
spirit  of  love,  patience,  meekness,  kindness,  and  condescension 
to  my  fellows,  and  especially  a  spirit  of  impertinence  in  disputa* 


64  MATTHIAS    AND 

tion.  Now,  Lord  Jesus,  I  confess  to  thee  that  this  has  been  wrong, 
and  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  it,  and  beg  thy  forgiveness.  O  Lord  ! 
forgive  me,  and  cleanse  me  from  these  sins  ;  help  me  hereafter, 
Lord,  to  exercise  the  opposite  graces  in  a  double  proportion. 

Ansiver.  We  have  freely  forgiven  thee  and  cleansed  thee  from 
this  unrighteousness. — Thy  petition  is  granted,  and  thou  shalt 
have  help  from  us  so  as  to  enable  thee  to  exercise  these  graces. 

Through  the  winter  of  1829-30,  and  the  succeed- 
ing spring,  Mr.  Pierson  continued  preaching  in  his  own 
house  at  the  Bowery  Hill ;  dwelling  much  upon  the 
subject  of  baptism  by  immersion,  and  hkevvise  prom- 
inently advancing  the  doctrines  held  by  IMrs.  *  *  * 
and  himself,  of  the  direct  teachings  of  the  spirit. 
Notwithstanding  the  refusal  to  his  application  for  a 
license  to  preach  the  Gospel,  he  entertained  the  opi- 
nion that  he  had  been  specially  called  to  that  office  ; 
believing  that  he  had  received  special  intellectual 
endowments  from  on  high  for  the  priesthood.  And 
if  any  doubt  that  monomania  had  already  seized 
upon  him  exists,  such  doubt  will  be  removed  by  the 
following  excerpt  from  his  diary  : — 

Monday,  2d  Jan.  1830.  Lord  Jesus,  thou  hast  committed  to 
my  care  great  and  precious  talents,  some  of  which  I  see,  and 
others  I  may  not  perceive.  O,  Lord,  I  wish  to  improve  to 
the  utmost  all  those  talents  thou  hast  given  me.  I  would  not 
bury  one  of  them,  but  diligently  improve  them  for  thy  glory. 
Now,  Lord  Jesus,  I  do  humbly  entreat  thee  to  unfold  to  me  in  a 
clear  manner  these  various  talents.  Show  me  their  excellency, 
their  value,  and  how  to  improve  them  in  the  best  manner. 
Leave  me  not  in  ignorance  concerning  any  one,  nor  sutler  me  to 
neglect  or  misimprove  any  one. 

O,  Lord  Jesus!  help  me,  for  I  need  help  in  these  things.  Lord, 
make  thy  grace  suHicient  for  me,  that  I  may  improve  thy  gifts; 
and  so  that  havmg,  more  may  be  given  me. 

Answer.  I  will  undertake  for  thee  ;  thou  seekest  to  glorify  me, 
and  I  will  help  thee  :  thou  shalt  prosper  abundantly ;  and  to  him 
that  hath,  more  shall  be  given. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  65 

In  the  month  of  February  following,  he  proceeded 
to  organize  a  church ;  a  fact  which  is  thus  noted  in 
his  diary  : — 

Sunday,  Feb.  2Qth,  1830.  We  formed  ourselves  into  a  church 
at  Bowery  Hill,  and  subscribed  a  paper  with  our  hands  unto  the 
Lord  ;  this  consumed  the  fore-part  of  the  day,  and — came  in  the 
alternoon,  and  was  mformed  what  we  had  done. 

The  original  members  of  this  church  were  about  a 
dozen,  whose  names  are  among  the  loose  papers  of 
Mr.  Pierson.  Among  them  was  Isabella,  a  black 
woman ;  who,  with  another  black  woman,  named 
Katy,  was  attached  to  Mr.  Pierson's  household. 
Their  names  are  mentioned  here,  because  they  will 
both  come  conspicuously  before  the  reader  in  the 
pages  of  this  narrative.  Both  entered  into  all  the 
vagaries  and  delusions  of  Mr.  Pierson  ;  and  one  of 
them  (the  former)  was  probably,  before  the  end 
came,  among  the  most  wicked  of  the  wicked. 

This  community,  of  which  Mrs.  *  *  *  was  the 
chief,  and  Mr.  Pierson  the  preacher,  were  in  prayer 
and  fastings  often.  For  weeks  together  their  meet- 
ings were  held  daily ;  and  fourteen  meetings  have 
been  known  to  be  holden  in  a  single  week.  On  one 
occasion,  at  least,  the  meetings  were  continued 
daily  for  three  weeks — time  only  being  allowed  for 
a  few  hoiu-s'  sleep  and  some  slight  refreshments. 
With  such  labours,  added  to  the  exertions  of  Mr. 
Pierson  out  of  doors,  and  those  of  his  wife  in  the 
Magdalen  Asylum,  and  among  the  wretched  crea- 
tures of  the  Five  Points,  the  constant  abstemious- 
ness required  by  the  Ptetrenchment  Society,  and  to 
f2 


66  MATTHIAS    AND 

frequent  and  protracted  seasons  of  entire  fasting,  Mr. 
Pierson  became  greatly  emaciated,  and  the  health 
of  his  wife  sank  under  it.  She  was  taken  ill  during 
the  winter,  and  her  health  rapidly  declined  with  the 
approach  of  spring.  She  was  tenderly  loved  by 
her  husband,  and  his  anxiety  for  the  event,  and  so- 
licitude for  her  recovery,  were  very  great.  Among 
the  visions  w^hich  he  has  left  upon  record  is  the  fol- 
lowing, which  he  probably  understood  as  shadowing 
forth  the  affecting  truth  that  she  was  soon  to  be 
taken  from  him  : — 

Friday  night,  9  d'doc'k,  March  I'ilh,  1830.  I  was  earnestly  beg- 
ging the  Lord  to  bestow  her  bodily  strength,  and  I  heard  a  small 
still  voice  saying,  "Until  the  ram,  Ichose  the  body  for  a  sacri- 
fice." I  continued  to  pray,  and  heard  a  small  still  voice  continue 
to  say,  "  The  supper  is  prepared,  O,  to  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb, 
bring  forth  the  robe!"  and  1  saw  it  put  on.  I  saw  the  face  of 
her  :  she  laid  down  four  weapons  ;  and  I  saw  her  countenance  ; 
and  if  you  ever  had  the  view  of  heaven,  it  was  like  that.  I  had 
hold  of  her  elbow,  and  she  asked  me  if  I  knew  her  now.  She 
told  me  what  to  do  with  the  weapons  ;  and  I  saw  two  wings  let 
down  to  her  from  heaven,  and  she  flew  away. 

Having  partially  retired  from  business,  Mr.  Pier- 
son  now  spent  much  of  his  time  in  searching  the 
Scriptures  and  in  preaching.  His  mind,  at  this 
crisis,  dwelt  much  upon  the  first  and  second  resur- 
rection, as  spoken  of  in  the  Apocalypse.  He  ob- 
served that  there  was  great  blessedness  laid  up  for 
those  who  would  have  a  part  in  the  first  resurrec- 
tion ;  and,  as  he  read  the  signs  of  the  times,  he  sup- 
posed that  the  first  resurrection  was  very  near,  and, 
for  aught  he  knew,  the  very  time  when  Jesus  would 
make  his  second  appearance  ;  and  it  was  his  great 
desire  that  Mrs.  Pierson  and  himself  should  have  a 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  67 

part  in  this  first  resurrection.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fol- 
ger  having  now  removed  to  the  Bowery  Hill,  and 
become  members  of  his  church,  and  participants  in 
the  other  associations  and  labours  of  thjB  community, 
Mr.  Pierson  held  earnest  conversations  with  Mr. 
Folger  upon  this  subject. 

At  length,  about  the  middle  of  June,  the  physi- 
cians having  announced  to  Mr.  Pierson  that  they 
had  no  expectation  of  the  recovery  of  his  wife,  he 
called  upon  Mrs.  Folger,  and  repeated  what  they 
had  said — adding  that  "  man's  extremity  was  God's 
opportunity,"  and  it  was  his  belief  that  Mrs.  Pierson 
might  be  restored  by  faith  and  prayer,  and  by  obeying 
the  injunctions  of  the  Apostle  James,  touching  the 
anointing  of  the  sick.  Knowing  well  with  what 
zeal  and  willingness  she  had  laboured  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard,  "  he  was  willing  to  try  how  far  God  would 
interpose  in  saving  her  life  in  answer  to  prayer,  and 
at  the  risk  of  being  thought  crazy,  and  having  his 
name  cast  out  as  evil.  He  would  shelter  himself 
under  the  word  of  God."  The  following  entries  in 
his  diary  occur  at  this  time.  The  date  of  the 
second  it  is  important  to  bear  in  mind,  as  it  will  be 
referred  to  again  : — 


Friday,  June  18,  1830.  Day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  Sarah. 
It  seemed  the  Lord  said,  "  Sarah  thy  wife  shall  recover." 

Sunday,  June  20,  1830.  I  have  named  thee  this  day  Ehjah 
the  Tishbite,  and  thou  shalt  go  before  me  in  the  spirit  and 
power  of  Ehas,  to  prepare  my  way  before  me. 

On  the  next,  or  the  following  day,  according  to 
Mr.  Pierson's  own  relation,  which  has  been  fur- 


68  BIATTHIAS    AND 

nished  the  writer  by  a  friend,  while  proceeding  doM'n 
to  Wall-street  in  an  omnibus,  God  spake  to  him 
audibly,  and  said,  "  Thou  art  Elijah  the  Tishbite — 
Gather  unto  me  all  the  members  of  Israel  at  the  foot 
of  Mount  Carmel."  This  injunction  he  interpreted 
to  mean,  that  he  must  convene  the  leading  members 
of  his  church  at  his  house  on  Bowery  Hill.  This 
church,  in  his  view,  was  the  true  Israel  ;  and  its  of- 
ficers, of  course,  the  elders.  He  accordingly  invited 
several  of  the  members  to  his  house,  on  the  23d  of 
June — all  of  whom  had  become  more  or  less  infected 
with  his  enthusiasm,  although  all  had  not  wandered 
so  far  into  the  mists  of  delusion  as  himself.  After 
a  special  conversation  with  Mrs.  Folger,  in  which 
he  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting,  she  also  con- 
sented to  attend. 

Assembled  around  the  bedside  of  Mrs.  Pierson, 
now  evidently  near  her  end,  Mr.  Pierson  quoted  the 
passage  from  James,  heretofore  referred  to,  and 
urged  that  it  was  indispensable  to  the  recovery  of  his 
wife  that  he  should  literally  fulfil  that  injunction.  He 
had  called  the  elders  of  the  church  together,  and  she 
must  be  anointed.  Arrangements  were  accordingly 
made  for  that  ceremony.  Among  the  persons  pres- 
ent on  the  occasion,  were  Mrs.  *  *  *,  and  the  black 
woman  Isabella,  who  was  very  forward  and  active. 
'According  to  the  impressions  of  persons  in  the  ad- 
joining apartment,  who  were  too  much  shocked  by 
the  procedure  to  be  present,  Isabella  must  have  been 
one  of  the  principal  actors  and  speakers  in  the  re- 
ligious rites  and  ceremonies  that  were  observed. 
The  fact  of  the  anointing  is  briefly  noted  in  the 
diary  of  Mr.  Pierson,  thus  :-^^ 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  69 

Monday,  June  23,  1830.  Anointed  Sarah  with  oil  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  according  to  James  v.  14,  15. 

It  is  not  known  or  believed  by  the  friends  of  Mrs. 
Pierson  that  she  altogether  approved  of  this  fanatical 
procedure,  notwithstanding  what  it  will  soon  be  per- 
ceived her  husband  said  upon  the  subject ;  or,  if  she 
did,  her  mind  and  body  had  become  so  much  debili- 
tated by  disease,  that  her  own  views  at  this  time, 
need  scarcely  be  taken  into  the  account.  Either  way 
however,  it  is  now  of  but  little  consequence.  In  a 
very  few  days  after  the  anointing  she  was  no  more 
of  this  world — her  purified  spirit  having  ascended  to 
the  bosom  of  her  Saviour.*  Preparations  were 
made  for  the  funeral,  as  usual,  and  a  large  number 
of  special  invitations  were  issued.  Mr.  Pierson 
iiimself  declaring,  however,  that  it  w  ould  be  no  fune- 
ral, but  rather  a  resurrection.  Indeed,  he  seemed  to 
be  fldly  persuaded  that  she  would  that  day  be  restored 
to  life  again  by  the  prayer  of  faith.  The  universal 
respect  which  the  deceased  had  enjoyed  while  living, 
as  a  lady  of  eminent  piety  and  unbounded  benevo- 
lence, would  of  course  have  produced  a  large  at- 
tendance at  her  funeral,  to  say  nothing  of  the  pecu- 
liarity of  the   case.     About  two  hundred  persons 

*  In  relation  to  the  disorder  of  which  Mrs.  Pierson  died,  a 
medical  gentleman  acquainted  with  the  whole  proceedings  at 
the  Bowery  Hill,  remarks  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  : — "  I  always 
attributed  Mrs.  Pierson's  sickness  and  death  to  her  excessive 
fasting,  being  so  frequently  repeated  and  long  continued.  In- 
deed it  is  very  probable  that  Mr.  Pierson  himself  lost  both  health 
and  reason  from  the  same  cause.  I  had  frequent  occasion  to 
speak  to  patients,  whose  health  was  so  rapidly  declining,  in  re- 
lation to  the  mischief  of  this  delusion,  and  received  for  answer 
that  they  belonged  to  the  Retrenchment  Society  and  must  fast. 


70  MATTHIAS    AND 

attended,  a  majority  of  whom  were  females.  There 
were  also  several  clergymen  of  different  denomina- 
tions present.  From  the  lips  of  one  of  these,  the 
writer  has  noted  down  a  full  account  of  the  whole 
of  the  solemn  and  awful  procedure  which  followed, 
and  by  a  physician  who  was  also  present  he  has  like- 
wise been  favoured  with  a  written  account.  The 
latter  remarks, — "  The  hall  and  rooms  being  filled, 
I  stood  upon  the  piazza,  which  opened  by  a  large 
raised  window  into  the  parlour  where  the  corpse  lay 
in  a  coffin,  clad  in  grave-clothes.  Soon  after  I 
took  this  position,  where  I  could  hear  and  see  the 
anticipated  ceremonies,  I  v»  as  questioned  by  several 
persons  whether  I  believed  that  she  would  be  raised. 
As  I  saw  they  were  followers  of  Mr.  Pierson,  and 
addressed  the  same  question  to  others  who  looked 
sceptical,  I  evaded  a  direct  answer." 

Meantime  Mr.  Pierson  was  sitting  in  an  adjoin- 
ing room,  opening  into  the  parlour  where  the  corpse 
was  laid,  with  the  utmost  tranquillity  and  composure. 
One  of  his  clerical  friends  sat  with  him  for  a  time, 
and  as  the  funeral  seemed  to  be  delayed,  he  at  length 
suggested  that  they  had  better  proceed,  and  inquired 
whether  there  was  any  particular  order  of  service 
which  he  wished  to  be  observed.  His  reply  was — 
*'  wait  a  minute  ;"  and  he  sat  with  the  same  unmoved 
composure  a  time  longer.  Taking  an  open  bible  in 
his  hand,  he  then  rose,  and  entered  the  room  of  the 
assembly,  where  the  body  lay,  and  a  scene  ensued 
which  almost  baffles  description.  He  approached 
the  coffin  with  a  measured  and  solemn  tread,  and 
with  deep  solemnity,  and  a  hollow  sepulchral  voice, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  71 

read  the  following   passage   from    the   Epistle   of 
James,  v.  14,  15. 

♦'  Is  any  sick  among  you  ?  let  him  call  for  the  el- 
ders of  the  church,  and  let  them  jrraij  over  him^ 
anointing  him  iciili  oiU  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
And  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and  the 

LORD  SHALL  RAISE   HIM  UP." 

Having  read  the  passage,  and  looking  round  upon 
the  audience,  with  deep  and  solemn  emphasis,  he 
added — "  This  dear  woman  has  been  anointed  in  the 
name  of  Israel's  God,  and  in  obedience  to  this  di- 
vine command  ;  and  I  believe  that  God  will  fulfil 
his  promise."  He  then  repeated  the  last  six  words 
of  the  quotation  several  times,  emphasising  the  word 
"  5/m//,"  with  great  force  and  feeling,  and  proceeded 
to  argue  that  the  whole  passage  was  to  be  under- 
stood literalhjy  which  he  affirmed  to  be  its  certain  in- 
fallible meaning  as  revealed  to  him,  and  to  that  dear 
woman,  (pointing  to  the  corpse),  and  in  this  faith,  he 
said,  she  died.  He  then  related  a  remarkable  reve- 
lation made  to  him  in  a  carriage  as  he  was  coming 
out  from  the  city  a  short  time  previous,  and  de- 
clared, that  the  same  revelation  was  simultaneously 
made  to  his  wife,  then  nigh  unto  death.  He  stated 
that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him  and  com- 
manded him  to  have  faith  in  that  promise,  and  in  that 
faith  to  conform  to  the  conditions,  and  the  promise 
should  be  fulfilled.-  When  he  arrived  home,  he  found 
his  wife  anxious  for  his  return,  and  she  told  him, 
without  hearing  anything  from  him  touching  the  ex- 
traordinary communication  from  Heaven  which  ho 
had  received  on  the  way,  that  tlie  Holy  Ghost  had 


72  MATTHIAS    AND 

directed  her  to  instruct  her  husband  in  the  faith  of 
St.  James's  testimony,  and  assured  her  that  she 
should  be  raised. 

Mr.  Pierson  farther  proceeded  to  say,  that  finding 
that  the  moment  she  had  received  the  revelation  was 
the  identical  time  when  his  manifestation  was  com- 
municated, he  felt  it  his  duty,  and  so  did  that  dear 
woman,  (again  pointing  to  the  corpse),  to  do  as  the 
Lord  had  commanded  them.  He  accordingly  col- 
lected together  a  number  of  pious  friends  who  were 
in  the  faith,  and  they  proceeded  hterally  to  anoint 
her  body  with  oil,  and  pray  over  her,  trusting  in  this 
promise,  "  The  Lord  shall  raise  him  up."  And 
though  her  physicians  had  told  them  that  she  must 
die,  for  the  consumption  had  destroyed  her  lungs,  yet 
they  knew  the  Lord,  the  Heavenly  Physician,  could 
heal  the  sick,  and  even  raise  the  dead  ;  and  they  had 
strong  faith  in  His  word,  that  if  they  anointed  her, 
and  prayed,  the  promise  would  be  fulfilled,  for  "  the 
Lord  shall  raise  him  up."  In  that  faith,  he  repeated, 
that  dear  woman  died.  And  after  exhorting  all 
present  to  exercise  similar  faith,  and  affirming  in  the 
language  of  the  Saviour,  "  she  is  not  dead  but 
sleepeth,"  he  commented  on  the  wickedness  of  un- 
belief, and  the  sin  of  doubting  the  word  of  God. 
He  then  unequivocally  declared,  that  whereas,  the 
elders  of  the  church  had  anointed  her  with  oil  and 
prayed  over  her,  if  she  were  not  raised  up  to-day, 
now,  on  the  spot,  the  word  of  God  falls  to  the  ground. 
But  expressing  his  full  confidence  that  the  miracle 
would  be  performed,  for  the  strengthening  of  the 
faith  of  his  disciples,  and  that  the  mouths  of  gain- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  73 

sayers  might  be  stopped,  by  her  instant  resurrection, 
he  invited  all  present  to  unite  with  him  in  prayer. 
He    then    spread   forth  his  hands  over  the  coffin, 
closed  his  eyes,  and  began  a  solemn  and  impressive 
prayer.     The  following  sentences  he  repeatedly  used 
with  most  impassioned  feeling,  and  with  very  little 
variation  of  language.     "  0   Lord  God  of  Israel ! 
thy   own   word    declares  that  if  the  elders   of  the 
church  anoint  the  sick  and  pray  over  him,  the  Lord 
shall  raise  him  up.    We  have  taken  thee  at  thy  word  ; 
we  have  anointed  her  with  oil,  and  prayed  the  prayer 
of  faith,  and  thou  knowest  in  this  faith  the    dear 
woman  died,  and  in  this  faith  we  thy  children  live. 
Now,  Lord,  we  claim  thy  promise !      God  is  not 
man  that  he  should  lie,  and  if  this  dear  woman  is  not 
raised  up  this  day,  thy  word  will  fall  to  the  ground ; 
thy  promise  is  null  and  void  ;  and  these  gainsaying 
infidels  will  rejoice,  and  go  away  triumphing  in  their 
unbelief.     Lord  God  !  thou  canst  not  deny  thyself. 
Thou  knowest  we  have  performed  the  conditions  to 
the  very  letter.     O  Lord,  now  fulfil  thy  promise- 
now.  Lord — O  let  not  thy  enemies  blaspheme — show 
that  thou  hast  Almighty  power — thou  canst  raise  the 
dead — we  believe  it,  Lord.     Come  now,  and  make 
good  thy  word,  and  let  this  assembly  see  that  there  is 
a  God  in  Israel !"     Thus  he  continued  to  pray  with 
a  loud  voice,  and  great  effort,  for  nearly  an  hour, 
when  he  closed  and  sank  down  into  a  chair,  appa- 
rently much  exhausted,  but  yet  with  the  calmness 
and  serenity  of  perfect  and  entire  conviction.     The 
manner  and  matter  of  the  prayer  had  evidently  a 
wonderful  effect  upon  the  audience.     The  attention 
G 


74  MATTHIAS    AND 

of  every  one  was  riveted  upon  the  preacher,  and  all 
eyes  save  those  of  the  afflicted  and  weeping  relatives 
were  fixed  upon  the  coffin,  as  anxiously  as  though 
they   themselves   had   yielded  to   the  delusion,  and 
were  expecting  to  see  the  lifeless  body  rise  up  in  full 
health  and  vigour  before  them.     In  the  course  of 
the  enthusiastic  effusion,  a  number  of  ladies  who 
were  in  the  faith,  and  one  of  whom,  as  the  writer 
has  been  assured  was  Mrs.  *  *  *,  stood  around  the 
coffin,  lookinjj-  intently  for  the  miracle,  and  occa- 
sionally touching  the  face  and  hands  of  the  corpse, 
expecting  to  discover  signs  of  returning  life.     This 
they  continued  to  do,  during  the  solemn  pause  which 
followed  the  prayer,  and  a  drop  of  blood  oozing  at 
the  moment  from  one  of  the  nostrils,  inspired  strong 
hopes  that  she  would  indeed  be  raised  up  ;   and  two 
of  the  ladies  stepped  up  to  one  of  the   physicians 
present,    and    inquired  whether    that  circumstance 
was  not  a  token  of  returning  life.      Upon  this  point 
he  himself  says,    "  I  could   suppress   the  emotions 
produced  by  this  scene  no  longer,  and  after  telling 
them  it  was  an  infallible  evidence   of  death  rather 
than  life,  and  a  token   of  incipient  putrefaction,  I 
followed   them  into   the  room,  and   requested  the 

Rev.  Mr. ,  who  stood  by  and  saw  and  heard 

this  solemn  mockery,  to  address  the  people,  and  if 
possible  to  remove  the  erroneous  impressions  which 
would  otherwise  result  from  our  afflicted  brother's 
delusion."  The  effect  of  the  whole  scene  is  de- 
scribed as  having  been  paralyzing.  A  breathless 
silence  prevailed.  They  looked  at  each  other,  and 
even  the  clergymen  present  seemed  to  know  not  what 


HIS    LMPOSTURES.  76 

to  say.  The  appeal  to  one  of  them,  however,  made 
by  the  physician,  as  just  noted,  was  responded  to 
in  a  very  judicious  and  appropriate  manner.  He 
rose  and  remarked  with  emphasis, — "  Yes,  this  be- 
loved and  lamented  Christian  shall  rise  again — at 
THE  RESURRECTION  OF  THE  JUST !  forit  is  the  promiso 
of  God,  that  all  those  who  are  Christ's,  he  will  bring 
with  him  at  his  coming."  This  remark  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  series  of  timely  observations,  which  had 
the  effect  of  tranquillizing  the  feelings  of  the  audi- 
ence. He  proceeded  to  explain  the  passage  in  St. 
James,  and  rejoiced  in  the  certainty  of  its  fulfilment. 
"  The  Lord  will  raise  her  up,  but  not  to-day,  nor  to- 
morrow ;  yeU  dying  in  the  Lord,  she  shall  have  part 
in  the  first  resurrection,"  &c.  Several  friends  then 
united  in  requesting  the  sexton  to  close  the  coffin, 
which  was  strenuously  opposed  by  a  few  of  the  dis- 
ciples, who  insisted  that  they  must  wait  till  12  o'clock 
(it  was  a  morning  funeral,  and  had  been  appointed 
at  10  o'clock),  when  the  miracle  would  certainly  be 
performed.  In  the  sequel,  when  they  found  it  did 
not  take  place,  the  failure   was  ascribed  by  Mrs. 

*  *  *,  Mrs. ,  and  other  votaries  of  Mr.  Pierson, 

to  the  unbelief  of  some  of  the  persons  present,  and 
they  upbraided  them  upon  the  subject. 

Mr.  Pierson  said  nothing  himself,  but  seemed  to 
be  lost  in  devout  contemplation,  and  sat  with  perfect 
confidence,  awaiting  the  moment  when  his  prediction 
would  be  verified  by  the  restoration  of  his  wife.  He 
was  viewed  by  those  not  labouring  under  the  delu- 
sion, as  an  afflicted  brother,  who  was  entitled  to  all 
tJieir  sympathies,  in  his  melancholy   bereavement, 


76  MATTHIAS    AND 

and  his  yet  more  melancholy  state  of  mind  ;  it  was 
at  first  apprehended  that  he  might  interpose  objec- 
tions to  the  interment  of  the  body  ;  but  he  did  not ; 
and  it  was  laid  in  its  narrow  bed  in  the  church-yard 
in  Amity  street.  Some  of  Mr.  Pierson's  particular 
friends  acccompanied  him  back  to  his  now  desolate 
home,  for  the  purpose  of  endeavouring  to  converse 
with  him,  and  if  possible,  restore  him  to  a  sound 
state  of  thinking — re-adjusting  the  balance  of  his 
mind.  But  all  was  in  vain.  He  now  believed  as 
firmly  that  she  would  be  raised  at  12  o'clock  at 
midnight,  as  he  had  done  that  she  would  arise  at 
the  close  of  his  prayer  at  noon.  Under  this  im- 
pression, he  directed  her  sleeping  apartment  to  be 
set  in  order,  the  bed  made  up,  night-clothes  pre- 
pared for  her  accommodation,  and  all  the  little  affairs 
arranged,  as  for  the  reception  of  a  bride.  He  also 
sent  down  to  the  city,  and  procured  such  delicacies 
as  he  supposed  would  gratify  her  taste. 

On  the  following  day,  in  conversations  with  his 
friends,  who  continued  their  attentions  to  his  singu- 
lar case,  he  still  insisted  that  she  would  rise  again : 
God,  he  said,  had  promised  it,  but  had  not  specified 
the  particular  day.  He  now  believed  her  resurrec- 
tion would  take  place  at  sun-rise  on  the  following 
Sabbath  morning  ;  and  such  was  the  strength  of  his 
faith,  that  he  actually  repaired  to  the  grave  early  on 
that  morning,  taking  his  little  daughter  with  him,  to 
receive  her  embrace.  And  yet  down  to  this  period, 
upon  every  other  subject  than  that  of  religion,  and 
his  rehgious  duties,  his  mind  was  as  regular,  and 
epparently  as  sound,  as  it  had  ever  been.     In  all 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  77 

business  matters,  moreover,  he  was  as  accurate  and 
acute  as  ever. 

In  the  conclusion  of  this  chapter,  as  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger  are  closely  connected  with  this  history,  it  is 
proper  to  state,  that  they  left  the  city  on  a  tour  of 
hea  th  the  day  after  the  anointing,  and  were  not 
present  at  any  of  the  subsequent  scenes  described. 
G2 


78  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Continuation  of  the  History  of  Mr.  Pierson— Yet  believes  his 
Wife  is  to  be  raised  from  the  Dead— The  Negro  Woman, 
Katy,  and  her  Visions — Extracts  from  Mr.  Pierson's  Diary — 
He  purchases  Katy's  Freedom,  and  sends  her  Home  to  Vir- 
ginia— Continues  preaching  at  Bowery  Hill— Sickness  there, 
and  dispersion  of  '  the  Kingdom' — Copious  Extracts  from  Mr. 
Pierson's  Prayers,  Meditations,  and  Closet  Exercises — Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Folger  return  to  the  City — They  fall  again  into  the 
Hands  of  Mr.  P.  and  Mrs.  *  *  "*— Further  Extracts— Mr, 
Pierson  asserts  the  Power  of  Miracles — His  Covenant— Ex- 
traordinary Infatuation  concerning  His  Wife — The  Year  1831 
—Mr.  Folger's  History  resumed. 

It  is  necessary  in  the  present  chapter  still  to 
pursue  the  history  of  Mr.  Pierson.  The  idea  that 
his  beloved  wife  was  yet  to  be  raised  from  the  dead, 
and  restored  to  him  in  her  own  proper  person,  was 
so  deeply  implanted  in  his  mind,  as  not  to  forsake 
him  for  many  months,  and  even  for  years  afterward. 
It  seems,  in  fact,  for  a  long  time  to  have  had  an  al- 
most exclusive  possession  of  his  thoughts.  Among 
his  papers  which,  from  the  disorder  that  prevailed  on 
his  death,  and  the  breaking  up  of  the  establishment 
at  Sing  Sing,  seem  to  have  been  thrown  into  con- 
fusion, and  many  of  them  probably  lost,  the  writer 
has  been  enabled  to  find  no  record  of  any  spiritual 
interviews  between  Sarah  and  himself,  after  her 
burial,  except  that  in  tine  record  of  liis  niedjtatiofls 


HIS    IMPOST  URES.  79 

on  the  19th  of  December  following,  he  says,  Sarah 
spoke  to  him  and  said,  "  I  agree  to  what  you  have 
written."  It  is  known,  however,  that  he  declared, 
the  day  after  the  funeral,  that  she  had  appeared  to 
him,  and  many  believed  in  the  reality  of  his  vision. 
He  also  stated  subsequently,  that  he  had  had  several 
interviews  with  her — that  her  body  was  to  be  re- 
stored to  him — and  that,  according  to  a  revelation 
with  which  he  had  been  favoured,  she  was  to 'bear 
him  a  son  who  was  to  be  called  James.  Nor  did 
the  deceased  appear  to  her  husband  only.  The 
reader  may  have  remarked,  in  a  preceding  page,  the 
name  of  "  Katy"  as  among  the  inmates  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  household  on  Bowery  Hill.  She  was  a  woman 
of  colour,  from  Virginia,  a  slave,  who  became  a 
convert  to  Mr.  Pierson's  doctrines,  and,  of  course, 
a  member  of  "  the  kingdom."  This  Katy,  it  ap- 
pears, had  three  interviews  with  Mrs.  Pierson  after 
her  burial — or  rather,  the  wench  had  the  art  to  avail 
herself  of  the  mental  malady  under  which  Mr.  Pier- 
son  was  suffering,  and  induce  him  to  believe  as  much ; 
and  he  has  recorded  the  results  of  the  supposed 
conferences  between  the  departed  mistress  and  her 
servant  as  follows  : — 

KATy's    conversation    with    SARAH. 

• 

Friday,  July  2,  1830.  She  appeared  sitting  in  the  coffin,  top 
off— looking  well.  Spoke  about  the  lamp  Ihat  guided  the 
Christian  to  heaven;  invisible  here  because  of  .sin  and  conflict — 
at  my  espousals  Ehzabeth's  hands  almost  touched  her. 

Tell  Mr.  Pierson  to  keep  a  close  watch  over  Charlotte— that 
Jjght  mind  she  has  got. 

Tell  Timothy  the  time  is  at  hand,  and  to  look  to  the  Lord  in 
^th,  and  get  that  load  off  his  back. 


80  MATTHIAS    AND 

'  Tell  Mr.  Pierson  to  give  you  those  stockings  you  washed  for 
me,  and  my  old  night  wrapper.  I  desire  you  would  wear  some- 
thing of  mine. 

She  then  rose  up  and  began  to  fix  and  give  directions  for  the 
cleaning  and  fixing  the  house.  [I  was  the  same  day  cleaning  and 
fixing  the  house,  and  ordered  every  thing  done  as  I  thought  she 
would  have  had  it ;  this  unbeknown  to  Katy]. 

She  then  came  to  me  and  put  her  hands  round  my  neck  and 
whispered  to  me,  and  she  saw  her  no  more. 

Monday,  Jidy  5,  1830.  Katy  was  sitting  in  the  door,  praying  that 
she  might  see  her.  Sarah  spoke  and  said,  "  This  house  is  the 
Temple  of  God.  Do  you  remember  the  time  when  you  did' not 
want  us  to  move  ?"  She  showed  how  we  were  living  before 
we  were  married.  We  were  like  two  trees  dug  up  by  the  roots 
and  planted  together,  and  we  were  covered  by  one  mantle. 
At  that  time  we  conversed  together  about  the  work  the  Lord 
gave  us  to  do,  and  it  has  been  carried  on  ever  since.  I  now 
had  the  whole  of  it  on  me. 

To  Katy  she  said,  "  Prepare  to  meet  Christ  without  sin  unto 
salvation."  Heb.  ix.  28.  The  Lord  said  not  to  murmur.  He 
took  her  for  his  own  glory,  and  'twas  his  work. 

She  said,  "  Behold  the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife  ;"  and  Katy 
had  a  view  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  Rev.  xxi.  9.  Our  union 
was  an  everlasting  covenant  never  to  be  broken. 

Saturday,  July  10,  1830.  She  asked  "  how  the  children  were." 
"  Have  you  got  all  your  things  ?"  she  asked.  The  Lord  will  do 
for  him  (me)  what  He  sees  be^t  before  he  goes  away.  Tell  him 
to  go  to  the  Penitentiary,  State  Prison,  Almshouse,  and  Five 

Points,  if  it  be  only  once  or  twice  (Katy  and  Miss  R to  go 

also.) 

Those  things  wliich  I  had  in  hand  I  must  lay  down  well  [or 
finish  the  work  here  well]. 

The  last  work  we  did  together  (Five  Points)  brought  us  nearer 
to  God  than  we  ever  were  before. 

Then  the  Lord  took  her  for  his  own  glory.  She  was  as  a 
bright  morning  star,  and  God  took  me  for  his  own  glory.  I 
wonder  Mr.  Pierson  has  been  so  long  with  me  in  Jesus,  and 
does  not  know  me  yet. 

She  says  the  mantle,  or  covering,  is  still  over  us,  and  we  are 
both  together  in  it,  and  shall  never  be  separated. 

■^^  Thus  much  for  the  visions  of  Katy,  which,  as  we 
have  remarked  in  a  preceding  page,  she  had  "  the 
arV^  to  impose  upon  the  credulity  of  Mr.  Pierson. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  81 

It  is  not  intended  to  be  uncharitable ;  the  black 
woman,  too,  may  have  been  partially  subject  to  the 
delusion  prevailing  at  Bowery  Hill,  since  mania,  like 
various  other  diseases,  often  becomes  epidemic  ;  but 
it  will  be  observed  that,  like  the  king  of  the  Mohawks, 
when  he  dreamed  that  Sir  William  Johnson  had 
given  him  his  gold-laced  coat,  she  did  not  dream  for 
nothing  ;  and  the  "  stockings"  and  "  wrapper"  of  the 
deceased  were  but  small  items  in  the  total  of  the 
gains  brought  by  her  visions.  Katy  was  not  only  a 
slave,  but  she  had  a  family  in  Virginia,  to  which,  of 
course,  she  was  desirous  of  returning.  By  what 
further  appliances  she  operated  upon  Mr.  Pierson, 
is  not  known  to  the  writer  ;  but  the  following  entries 
in  his  diary,  at  subsequent  periods,  indicate  the  de- 
termination to  which  he  arrived  : — 


Sunday,  Sept.  20,  1830.  '  After  prayer  concerning  Katy's  go- 
ing to  Virginia,  the  Lord  said,  "  She  may  go.  I  will  be  with 
her,  and  no  evil  shall  befall  her.  She  shall  see  her  children, 
and  I  will  direct  her  and  them  in  the  way  I  have  appointed  for 
them." 

The  following  memorandum  is  of  an  uncertain 
date.  It  is  an  answer  to  another  prayer  respectino- 
Katy:  — 

"  Send  her  away  in  peace.  She  shall  return  to  her  own  native 
land,  and  die  there.  I  will  be  with  her.  You  may  do  for  her 
what  you  please." 

The  supposed  heavenly  mandate  was  implicitly 
obeyed,  as  the  writer  has  been  informed  by  an  inti- 
mate t^riend  of  Mr.  Pierson.  Katy's  freedom  was 
purchased  for  the  sum  of  four  hundred  dollars.     She 


82  ,  MATTHIAS    AND 


was  sent  back  to  her  family,  a  free  woman,  and  pro- 
vision was  made  for  her  support,  and  the  money 
promptly  remitted  until  the  decease  of  her  bene- 
factor. This  is  a  beautiful  incident  in  the  annals 
of  benevolence,  and  shows  that,  notwithstanding  the 
errors  of  the  head,  there  was  a  current  of  sympathy 
for  human  wo  in  his  heart  which  neither  error  nor 
fanaticism  could  chill. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  having  returned  from  the 
country  in  the  month  of  July,  were  informed  of  the 
occurrences  which  attended  the  death  and  burial  of 
Mrs.  Pierson,  and  which,  they  were  also  told,  had 
induced  those  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  to 
pronounce  Mr.  Pierson  a  deranged  man.  They 
lost  no  time  in  having  an  interview,  and  were  satis- 
fied from  his  conversation,  and  the  explanation  of  his 
views,  that  he  was  not  deranged — a  conclusion  which 
proves  very  clearly  that  they  were  getting  yet  more 
deeply  involved  in  the  delusion  themselves.  Mr. 
Pierson  spoke  to  them  of  the  "  first  resurrection," 
and  contended  that  he  had  only  been  in  error  as 
to  the  iime^  but  requested  them  not  to  recur  to  the 
subject  in  future.  He  continued  to  preach  as  be- 
fore, and  with  yet  stronger  confidence,  inasmuch  as 
he  construed  the  communication  made  to  him  on 
the  20th  of  June  into  a  special  commission.  No 
child  ever  believed  more  implicidy  what  was  told 
him  by  a  kind  father,  than  he  believed  that  the  Spirit 
had  said  to  him,  "  I  have  named  thee  this  day  Eli- 
jah the  Tishbite,"  &c.  ;  and  henceforward  he  was 
greatly  anxious  to  relinquish  his  commercial  pursuits 
and  devote  himself  entirely  to  the  ministry.     To  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  83 

question,  whether  he  had  received  the  appointment 
by  an  audible  annunciation,  he  replied,  "  I  heard  it. 
You  could  not  have  heard  it ;  but  I  heard  it  as  dis- 
tinctly as  I  ever  heard  any  thing  in  my  life."  He 
had  another  motive  to  continue  preaching,  from  a 
promise  which,  he  says  in  his  diary,  God  made  to 
him  on  the  4th  of  July,  "  If  thou  wilt  preach  my 
Gospel,  thou  shalt  have  thy  wife." 

In  the  month  of  August,  the  intermittent  fever 
broke  out  with  severity  upon  the  Hill,  and  the  fami- 
lies of  Mr.  Pierson,  Mr.  Folger,  and  others  of  the 
community,,  sickened.  The  consequence  was  a 
separation  and  dispersion  for  several  months.  Mr. 
Pierson,  however,  having  repeatedly  made  the  sub- 
ject of  a  removal  or  flight  into  the  country  a  subject 
of  special  prayer,  declined  leaving,  in  obedience,  as 
he  supposed,  to  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  following  are  extracts  from  his  exercises  upon 
this  occasion.  Nothing  can  manifest  stronger  con- 
fidence in  God,  or  greater  sincerity  : — 

Augtist  16,  1830.  0  Lord  Jesus,  I  am  thine,  and  thou  hast  all 
power  in  heaven  and  in  earth  ;  thou  hast  power  over  the  body 
to  heal  and  to  make  sick. 

Now,  O  Lord  Jesus,  I  commit  my  body  to  thee,  and  pray  for 
thy  watchful  and  fatherly  care  over  me  for  time  to  come.  Di- 
rict  me  concerning  diet,  clothing,  exposures  to  the  weather.  If 
I  take  any  thing  hurtful,  or  do  any  thing  hurtful,  do  thou  watch 
over  it  and  turn  away  the  evil  from  me.  If  thou  seest  good  to 
leave  me  to  sickness,  do  thou  be  with  me  and  guide  those  who 
have  the  care  of  me  ;  and  in  all  things,  even  as  a  tender  mother 
watches  over  her  offspring,  so  do  thou  watch  over  me  and  pre- 
serve me  for  thy  work  and  service. 

Answer.  I  have  accepted  thee,  and  my  word  shall  be  sure  unto 
thee. 

August  25,  1830.  O  Lord  Jesus,  I  am  thy  servant,  and  I  now 
ask  counsel  of  thee  conccrnmg  my  future  work.    Lord,  is  it  thy 


S4  MATTHIAS    AND 

will  that.  I  cease  my  labours  here  for  the  present  ?  If  so,  where 
must  I  go,  and  where  must  I  remove  my  dwelling '(  Shall  I 
only  shut  up  the  house,  or  move  away  altogether,  and  dispose 
of  the  furniture?  v 

O  Lord,  direct  me  concerning  these  things,  and  the  inmates 
of  the  family ! 

Aug7ist  29,  1830.  Inquired  of  the  Lord,  who  said  I  must  give 
up  all  thoughts  of  leaving  this  place,  but  continue  steadfastly 
and  faithfully  to  do  the  work  he  would  give  me  to  do.  Told 
the  Lord  people  complained  of  my  stay  here.  He  said,  "  I  will 
justify  it." 

In  order  to  illustrate  yet  more  fully  the  peculiar 
state  of  his  mind  at  this  time,  it  is  judged  proper  to 
devote  a  few  pages  to  a  series  of  extracts  from  his 
diary.  But  two  subjects  seem  to  have  had  posses- 
sion of  his  thoughts,  sleeping  or  waking — the  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  the  restoration  of  his  wife.  There 
is,  indeed,  through  all  his  closet  exercises,  an  expres- 
sion of  wonderful  faith,  love,  and  a  childlike  trust 
and  confidence  in  God.  Every  burden  of  his  heart 
he  carries  at  once  to  the  mercy-seat  in  prayer,  and 
spreads  every  thing  before  God  as  Hezekiah  did  the 
letter  of  Sennacherib. 


August  25,  1830.  O  Lord,  some  days  since  thou  didst  say  unto 
me  in  the  night,  "  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Paul  for  the  work 
whereunto  I  have  called  them."  Now,  Lord  Jesus,  give  me 
wisdom  to  do  what  is  required,  and  in  the  way  thou  wilt  have  it 
done. 

O  Lord,  some  days  since  (the  next  night  after  the  command 
to  sejjarate  Barnabas  and  Paul)  in  the  silence  of  the  night  thou 
didst  ask  me,  "Wilt  thou  have  thy  wife?"  O  Lord,  my  heart 
replied,  yea.  Lord,  I  will.  Now,  Lord  Jesus,  grant  me  the  desire 
of  my  soul,  and  let  us  be  together  in  all  thy  work  in  the  building 
up  of  thy  kingdom. 

Lord  Jesus,  take  this  thing  into  thine  own  hands,  and  bring  to 
pass,  and  herein  glonl'y  thyself,  and  take  [away]  my  reproach. 
Asked  the  Lord  if  I  had  any  thing  more  to  do  about  it.     He 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  85 

said,  "  Thou  hast  committed  it  to  me.     I  will  bring  it  to  pass — 
wait  patiently." 

Wednesday,  August  25,  1830.  Lord  Jesus,  thou  didst  say  to  me, 
fast  and  pray  to  prepare  myself  for  thy  good  gift.  O  Lord  Jesus, 
I  expect  great  things  from  thee.  O  Lord,  direct  me  when  to 
begin,  how  long  to  continue  fasting,  and  every  other  particular 
in  which  I  need  wisdom  in  this  matter. 

Ansu-er.  Fast  three  days  from  even  to  even,  and  begin  this 
evening.  The  taking  thy  medicine  and  Ihy  sickness  are  no 
hinderance. 

[I  began  fasting  Wednesday  at  simdown,  and  continued  to 
Saturday  after  sundown,  taking  neither  Ibod  nor  drink,  except 
some  medicine  the  first  fourteen  hours.] 

August  27,  1830.  The  second  day  of  my  fast  after  solemn  con- 
fession of  the  sins  of  my  whole  life,  which  I  had  taken  much 
pains  to  recollect ;  dividing  my  life  into  portions  bounded  by  re- 
markable periods,  writing  down  the  heads  to  help  my  memory 
— including  sins  of  ignorance,  and  those  omitted  or  forgotten. 
The  Lord  assured  me  they  were  all  forgiven,  blotted  out,  and 
carried  away  into  the  land  of  forgctfulness. 

That  I  should  be  clothed  in  line  linen,  clean  and  white,  which 
is  the  righteousness  of  the  saints.  The  Lord  also  told  me  I  must 
not  go  back  hereafter,  and  grieve  on  account  these  old  sins 
about  which  I  had  prayed,  nor  strive  to  get  any  burden  con- 
cerning them.  Tins  would  displease  him,  seeing  he  had  re- 
moved them  for  ever  from  his  remembrance.  The  Lord  also 
said,  "  Now  thou  mayst  ask  what  thou  wilt,  and  it  shall  be  done 
unto  thee." 

Continued,  Aug^ist  28,  1830.  Lord,  I  do  expect  great  things 
from  thee,  and  do  covet  the  best  gifts.  O  Lord  Jesus,  thou  hast 
called  me  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  I  desire  to  be  thoroughly 
furnished  for  the  work.  Now,  Lord,  grant  to  me  all  the  graces, 
gifts,  and  qualitications,  both  of  mind  and  body,  which  thou 
didst  give  to  thy  Son  Jesus  for  the  fulfilling  of  his  ministry;  and 
if  there  be  any  thing  whatever  lacking,  let  it  be  added. 

Answer.  Son,  all  that  I  have  is  thine  ;  that  which  thou  hast 
asked  is  freely  granted  unto  thee,  and  thou  shalt  have  every 
good  and  perfect  gift,  that  1  may  be  glorified  in  thee.  We  will 
be  with  thee  in  this  work.  We  in  thee,  and  thou  in  us,  and  be 
fellow -workers  together ;  and  this  work  shall  be  carried  on  till  • 
the  world  shall  end. 

August  29,  1830.  Inquired  of  the  Lord,  who  said    "Thou  arj 

H 


86  ,  Matthias  and 

Paul,  and  thy  wife  Barnabas — she  shall  come  and  labour  with 
thee,  thou  hast  done  all  1  required  of  thee." 

Hfofristoivn,  Wednesday,  September  1,  1830.  O  Lord  Jesus,  I 
am  thy  servant,  and  thou  hast  brought  me  here.  Thou  knowest 
the  tender  recollections  which  meet  me  on  every  hand,  and  in 
almost  every  object  on  which  my  eye  fixes.  Lord  Jesus,  I  flee 
to  thee  for  refuge  and  strength  in  this  time  of  need.  Grant  me, 
Lord,  what  I  need,  so  that  1  may  glorify  thee  while  here.  Lord, 
I  beseech  thee  help  me  in  my  outward  conduct,  m  my  conversa- 
tion ;  give  me  sound  wisdom  in  all  temporal  m_aLters,  and  in  all 
things,  so  that  1  may  not  give  offence  to  any,  or  bring  a  reproach 
on  thy  name. 

A7isu;er.  Thou  seekest  my  glory,  and  thou  shalt  have  strength, 
and  shalt  glorify  me. 

While  meditating  on  the  scenes  in  which  Sarah  had  been 
with  me  here,"  the  Lord  said  to  me,  "  This  is  the  last  trial  1  will 
lay  upon  thee  concerning  this  matter.  It  was  needful  for  thee 
to  come  here  where  the  people  had  seen  thy  attachment  for 
her,  that  they  might  also  see  my  power  in  supporting  thee  in  this 
trial.    Thy  will  be  done." 

Simday,  September  19,  1830.  O  Lord  Jesus,  I  am  thine,  and  de- 
sire to  do  thy  will.  Now,  O  Lord,  be  not  angiy  with  me  if  I  come 
again  to  thee  for  sure  direction  whether  I  must  stay  in  the  house 
till  May  next,  what  arrangements  I  shall  make  for  the  care  of 
the  children,  their  schooling,  and  all  they  need ;  for  Timothy, 
and  what  he  needs  ;  and  for  my  own  comfort  and  reputation  ; 
and  for  thy  work,  and  all  other  things  needful  and  proper  for  me 
in  my  circumstances. 

After  much  earnest  intercession  concerning  the  above,  the 
direction  of  the  Lord  was, — 

1st.  You  must  remain — you  will  not  please  me  except  you 
give  up  all  thoughts  of  going  away ;,  they  are  hurtful  to  my 
work. 

2d.  Made  known  the  other  things  to  the  Lord,  and  pleaded 
for  Sarah  to  be  restored  to  me,  to  take  care  of  all  these  matters. 
The  Lord  said  it  should  be  speedily  done,  and  that  I  must  write 
it  down,  for  there  should  be  a  performance  of  the  things 
promised. 

O  Lord,  I  come  to  thee  to  ask  counsel  of  thee,  when  I  must 
bring  my  bu.siness  with  Mr.  S.  to  a  close,  whether  at  the  end  of 
•  the  present  year,  or  at  the  end  of  one  year  from  that  time.  O 
Lord,  direct  me  and  him  about  it,  and  let  eveiy  thing  be  done  in 
peace  and  good  will. 
,^    Answer.  Thou  must  close  thy  business  at  the  end  of  this  year. 


HIS    IMPOSTURKS.  87 

I  have  need  of  thee  for  my  work,  and  cannot  spare  thee  longer. 
I  will  satisfy  his  (S.)  mind,  and  he  will  let  thee  go,  and  thou 
shalt  have  wherewith  to  live. 

O  Lord  Jesus,  my  mind  is  often  burdened  and  distressed  with 
the  fear,  that  in  the  work  thou  hast  given  me  to  do  I  may  by 
some  means  be  led  astray  into  some  false  way. 

O  Lord,  1  commit  this  matter  to  thee,  and  do  earnestly  entreat 
thee,  for  thy  great  name's  sake,  so  to  guide  and  direct  me  in  all 
thy  work,  that  I  may  be  kept  in  thy  way  and  from  all  error.  O 
Lord,  for  thy  name's  sake,  for  thy  people's  sake,  for  thy  truth's 
sake,  help  me  in  this  matter.  O  Lord,  the  eyes  of  many  are 
upon  me,  waiting  for  me  to  fall. 

After  earnest  prayer  on  the  above,  it  was  said, — 

"  We  wilLundertake  for  thee  ;  we  will  be  with  thee  in  all  that 
we  command  thee  to  do,  and  thou  shalt  not  fail  or  be  discour- 
aged till  all  be  accomphshed.  Our  power  and  strength  are 
pledged  for  thy  support,  and  thou  shalt  have  them  in  time  of 
need." 

O  Lord  Jesus,  I  am  troubled  with  various  temptations  which 
I  desire  to  mention  to  thee,  and  entreat  thy  help  to  strengthen 
me  against  them,  and  to  raise  me  above  their  influence. 

1st.  The  thoughts  of  what  will  be  said  when  I  shall  baptize 
in  thy  name,  it's  being  out  of  order,  &c. 

2d.  What  is  said  about  my  visions,  revelations,  &c.,  the  dan- 
ger of  walking  in  this  way,  &c. 

3d.  Fear  that  the  work  will  eventually  fail  and  come  to 
naught. 

4th.  Fear  of  being  left  to  want  on  leaving  the  business. 

Now,  O  Lord,  I  cast  these  burdens  upon  thee,  and  pray  for 
deliverance  from  them,  and  any  others  thou  seest  me  labouring 
under.  O  Lord,  raise  me  above  them,  and  enable  me  to  rejoice 
in  what  has  heretofore  been  a  burden. 

After  prayer  upon  each  article  separately,  the  Lord  answered, 

1st.  1  will  strengthen  thee :  I  will  remove  it  from  thee,  and 
thou  shalt  rejoice  in  thy  work :  I  have  called  thee  to  preach  and 
baptize. 

Answer  2d.  We  will  strengthen  thee,  and  these  things  shall 
be  no  hinderance  to  thee. 

Answer  3d.  Thou  hast  cast  this  burden  upon  me  ;  I  will  take 
it  from  thee,  that  it  be  no  longer  a  burden  to  thee. 

A?iswer  4th.  Write — "  the  earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fulness 
thereof,  and  that  they  that  serve  him  shall  be  fed  with  the  finest 
of  the  wheat,  and  shall  have  abundance  of  every  good  thing — for 
the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.    Amen." 

September  22, 1830.  This  morning,  while  in  prayer,  I  had  in  the 
spirit  a  full  view  of  the  Father  and  the  Son,  Sarah  standing  be- 


88  MATTHIAS    AND 

tween  them.  The  impression  made  on  my  mind  was,  that  the 
Lord  was  preparing  her  for  her  return.  This  view  continued 
most  of  the  day. 

September  28,  1830.  When  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  my  mind 
was  filled  with  the  thoughts  of  what  Elisha  did  after  Elijah  had 
cast  his  mantle  upon  him,  in  sacrificing  the  o.xen  with  wliich  he 
did  his  work — thereby  intimating  his  determination  never  to  re- 
turn to  worldly  employments  again.  It  appeared  to  me  my  de- 
termination to  leave  business  must  be  of  the  same  character,  or 
that  it  was  such. 

Sunday,  October  3,  1830.  Had  a  season  of  earnest  prayer  for 
Sarah's  resurrection  in  the  body;  though  the  Lord  appeared  dis- 
pleased with  me  in  other  things,  and  rebuked  me,  yet  he  said 
concermng  this,  "  Thy  prayer  is  heard." 

Monday  evening,  October  4,  1830.  Went  to  the  Lord  in  earnest 
prayer — humbled  myself,  and  made  confession  of  sins.  The 
Lord  said,  "  These  are  forgiven  thee,  go  in  peace."  Asked 
whether  I  had  done  wrong  in  speaking  about  my  faith  in  Sarah's 

resurrection  to  Mrs.  D and  sister  J .    The  Lord  answered, 

"  Thou  hast  done  no  wrong."  Asked  if  I  ought  to  speak  my 
mind  about  it  in  time  to  come.  He  said,  "  My  Spirit  will  teach 
thee  when  to  speak  and  when  to  forbear."  Told  the  Lord  how 
many  thought  concerning  my  being  ordained  of  men.    He  re- 

Elied,  "  Thou  hast  been  set  apart  according  to  my  mind,  and 
ast  no  need  to  go  to  men.  That  I  must  be  willing  to  bear  re- 
proach and  be  rejected  as  Jesus  was.  That  I  should  have  his 
power,  and  be  succeeded  in  the  work ;  yet  I  must  follow  his 
steps,  and  not  expect  better  treatment.  As  the  people  rejected, 
I  must  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  God." 

The  Lord  gave  me  much  precious  encouragement  and  many 
promises  after  I  had  humbled  myself. 

Tuesday  evening,  October  5, 1830.  Before  meeting,  while  medi- 
tating, the  Lord  said,  "  I  am  come ;"  and  I  felt  as  if  it  was  really 
so — I  felt  the  Lord  was  very  present. 

During  the  meeting,  while  one  was  in  prayer  and  mentioned 
the  grave,  the  Lord  said  to  me,  "  This  is  nothing  to  thee  (the 
grave),  for  thou  hast  triumphed  over  it  by  faith"  (conquered  it). 
This  seemed  spoken  in  relation  to  Sarah. 

Friday,  October  22,  1830.  At  the  store  opened  to  John  xv.  15, 
20.  The  word  "  remember,"  in  connection  with  what  follows, 
was  deeply  impressed  on  my  mind.    It  seemed  as  if  the  Saviour 


HIS    IMPOSTITRES.  89 

spoke  it  to  me,  and  that  I  must  ever  keep  in  view  what  he 
there  says,  as  to  me,  and  as  a  warning  that  these  things  shall 
be  so  to  me.     O  Lord,  help  me  to  remember ! 

Wedjiesday,  October  27,  1830.  This  morning,  before  going  out, 
went  to  my  closet  to  pray.  At  the  beginning  I  had  a  sweet 
gentle  influence  come  over  me.  Jesus  came  and  stood  at  my 
right  hand,  and,  putting  his  hand  on  my  head,  said,  "  Peace  be 
unto  you,  receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost — as  my  Father  hath  sent 
me,  even  so  send  I  you.  Whosesoever  sins  ye  remit,  they  are 
remitted  unto  them;  and  whosesoever  sins  ye  retain,  they  are  re- 
tauied.  Go  into  ail  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature.  Teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost— teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you,  and  lo  I  am  with  you 
always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 

Saturday,  November  1.3,  1830.  Went  to  my  closet  to  pour  out 
my  soul  to  the  Lord,  who  said  to  me,  "Ask  what  thou  wilt." 

Afsked.  Lord,  I  desire  to  have  a  heart  to  walk  before  thee  as 
Jesus  did. 

Answer.  I  have  granted  thee  a  heart  to  do  my  will  as  I  did  my 
Father's." 

Lord,  confirm  and  seal  to  me  from  this  day  all  that  I  have 
asked  of  thee  of  the  graces,  gifts,  and  qualifications  of  body  and 
mind  thou  didst  give  Jesus  for  the  performance  of  his  ministry 
in  the  world." 

Answer.  They  are  sure  to  thee  for  ever  more. 

Lord  Jesus,  I  ask  to  be  delivered  from  the  dominion  of  death 
and  the  grave.  When  I  have  finished  thy  work  in  the  world, 
grant  that  I  may  come  to  thee  (without  passing  through  death) 
in  the  way  and  manner  thou  shalt  see  most  for  thy  glory." 

When  1  had  prayed  this  prayer,  a  solemnity  and  feeling  of  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  came  over  me,  and  some  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture, as  John  xi.  35.  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  &c.  ; 
and  26th  verse,  whosoever  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die. 

Answer  to  the  above.  "  My  son,  this  is  a  great  thing ;  but  as  thou 
hast  faith,  it  shall  be  as  thou  hast  asked." 

After  prayer,  in  meditation,  the  Lord  said,  "John's  ministry 
is  fulfilled  here.  I  am  come  to  build  up  my  kingdom.  Thou 
art  head  of  the  corner.  Thou  shalt  have  power  to  work  miracles 
in  my  name,  and  to  do  many  mighty  works.  Write  these  things 
down,  that  others  may  know  my  power,  and  see  my  faithfulness. 

Thou  hast  asked  all  I  designed  :  go  in  peace  (from  thy  closet.) 
I  have  blessed  thee,  thou  art  my  beloved  son  in  whom  I  am  well 
pleased." 

H2 


90  MATTHIAS    AND 

The  Lord  said,  thou  art  a  wonder  to  Angels,  because  of  thy 
faith. 

This  evening  the  Lord  said,  "  This  is  my  covenant  with  you, 
saith  the  Lord ;  thou  shalt  have  Sarah  thy  wife,  and  she  shall 
be  with  thee  in  all  thy  work,  and  shall  bear  thee  a  son,  and  thou 
shalt  call  his  name  James.  Thou  shalt  have  Abraham's  bless- 
ing." 

Simday,  November  21,  1830.  Went  to  the  closet  to  pray  ;  had 
sweet  communion  with  my  beloved  Saviour.  Entreated  the 
Lord  to  confirm  to  me  the  covenant  and  blessing  above  written 
(13th  November)  respecting  Sarah,  that  it  might  be  an  ever- 
lasting covenant  between  us,  and  that  my  soul  might  rest  upon 
it  with  unwavering  confidence. 

Ajiswer.  It  is  confirmed  unto  thee  this  day  for  an  everlasting 
covenant  between  us,  and  thy  soul  shall  rest  upon  it  as  upon 
the  rock  of  ages.     Go  write  it  down." 

Late  in  the  autumn,  Mr.  Folger  and  his  wife  hav- 
ing returned  to  New-York,  without,  as  it  would 
seem,  directly  renewing  their  association  with  the 
Bowery  Hill  community,  were  sought  out  by  Mr. 
Pierson  and  Mrs.  *  *  *,  and  unhappily  again  fell 
under  their  influence.  Mr.  Pierson  repeated  to 
them  the  exercises  of  his  mind  during  their  separa- 
tion, and  informed  them,  among  other  things,  that  he 
had  received  the  gift  of  the  laying  on  of  hands.  He 
then  laid  his  hands  on  the  heads  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger,  their  children,  and  on  Mrs.  *  *  *.  But  his 
gifts  did  not  stop  at  laying  on  of  hands.  He  was 
next  endowed  with  the  power  of  working  miracles. 
The  following  note  in  his  diary  is  without  date,  but 
that  which  follows  indicates  about  the  time  when  it 
was  probably  written  : — 

The  Lord  encouraged  me  to  faith  ;  and,  in  relation  to  mir- 
acles, said  I  might  do  whatever  I  could.  Nothing  should  be 
impossible  to  me. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  91 

In  relation  to  converts,  I  might  have  as  many  as  I  would,  if  it 
were  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  forty  and  four  thousand. 

December  1,  1830.  Thy  petition  for  the  gift  of  faith  to  work 
miracles  in  my  name  is  granted. 

Sarah  must  first  be  raised  up — this  is  the  first  miracle  to  be 
wrought— this  is  to  the  work  vvhat  the  promise  of  the  Spirit  was 
to  the  disciples  before  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Nothing  can  be 
done  till  this  is  done. 

Concerning  the  first  resurrection,  it  was  said,  "  The  kingdom 
first  to  be  set  up ;  the  way  of  the  Lord  prepared ;  the  gospel 
preached  among  all  nations.  Thou  shalt  be  with  me  in  Paradise 
before  that  time,  but  shall  come  with  me  when  I  come." 

Mr.  Folger  and  his  wife  being  members  of  Mr. 
Pierson's  church,  regarded  it  as  a  duty  to  receive 
baptism  by  immersion.  But  difficulties  were  in  the 
way,  inasmuch  as  he  had  applied  to  the  clergy  in 
vain  for  ordination.  These  parlies,  and  Mrs.  *  *  * 
having  (as  he  states  in  his  diary)  expressed  a 
willingness  to  be  baptized  by  him,  he  asks  counsel 
of  God  on  the  9th  of  December  : — 


Now,  Lord  Jes\is,  I  commit  this  matter  to  thee,  and  pray  thee 
to  take  it  into  thine  own  hands  ;  direct  all  things  concerning  it ; 
bring  it  to  pass  in  thine  own  way  and  time,  and  let  us  know  it. 

Answer.  I  have  accepted  this  burden  of  thee.  I  will  bring  it 
to  pass  in  my  own  time  and  way,  and  will  glorify  myself  in  it. 
Thou  shalt  know  the  time. 

December  11,  1830.  Lord  Jesus,  thou  hast  said  to  me,  as  my 
Father  sent  me,  even  so  do  I  send  you.  Go  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ; 
teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you.  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

Lord  Jesus,  I  do  gladly  receive  thy  command,  and  promise 
obedience,  relying  on  thy  gracious  promises. 

Answer.  My  grace  is  sufi^icient  for  thee. 

Now,  Lord  Jesus.  I  do  make  a  firm  covenant  with  thee  this 
night,  take  me  for  thine  own  servant,  do  with  me  what  thou 
wilt.  Send  me  when  and  where  thou  wilt,  to  preach  thy  Gospel, 
and  in  every  thing  let  thy  grace  be  sufficient  for  me. 


92  MATTHIAS    AND 

"  Lord  Jesus,  now  grant  me  every  gift  and  grace  I  need  to  do 
thy  work  and  glorify  thee  on  earth ;  even  as  thy  Father  didst  fur- 
nish and  send  thee,  so  do  thou  qualify  me,  that  as  thou  didst,  so 
enable  me  to  finish  the  work  thou  shalt  give  me  to  do  on  the 
earth. 

'•  Lord,  confii-m  all  the  promises  thou  hast  made  me  since  thou 
hast  called  me  to  preach  thy  Gospel. 

"  Now,  Lord  Jesus,  my  beloved  Savnour,  I  have  committed 
my  all  into  thine  hands,  relying  on  thy  loved  power.  Accept 
my  offering,  and  let  this  covenant  be  established  between  me 
and  thee,  and  when  dangers  and  difficulties  surround  me,  be  thou 
my  mighty  helper  and  deUverer. 

Elijah  Pierson. 

Answer.  My  son,  I  agree  to  this  covenant,  and  it  shall  be 
established  between  me  and  thee  for  ever. 

After  the  above  was  written,  in  meditating  thereon,  the 
Lord  said,  "  Now  thou  art  mine — now  will  I  bless  thee  and  glo- 
rify myself  in  thee.  The  covenant  of  my  peace  is  with  thee. 
As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord,  thy  companion  shall  be  rasied  up,  and 
shall  be  with  thee  in  the  work,  and  shall  bear  thee  a  son,  and 
thou  shalt  call  his  name  James.  When  you  have  done  my 
work,  you  shall  ascend  up  to  me,  and  not  pass  through  the 
grave." 

December  19tk,  1830 — Sunday.  After  the  family  had  gone 
out,  went  to  prayer— besought  the  Lord  to  teach  me  what  to 
pray  for  ;  the  words,  "  He  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the  I^ord's  day," 
came  into  my  mind.  The  Lord  said,  pray  for  the  Holy  Ghost. 
After  prayer  it  was  said,  thy  petition  was  granted.  Thou  hast 
received  the  Holy  Gho.'^-t  in  all  his  miraculous  influences. 

I  asked  if  there  was  any  outward  visible  sign.  The  Lord 
said,  "  No  :  it  was  from  Spirit  to  spirit.  Thou  hast  received 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  shalt  work  miracles  and  wonders  in  my 
name.  Thou  shalt  prophecy  in  my  name  to  the  people,  and  thy 
word  shall  be  estabhshed.  That  which  thou  hast  spoken  con- 
cerning thy  wife  shall  be  fulfilled.  My  word  (James  v.  15)  on 
which  thou  hast  relied  shall  be  establis^hed,  that  the  people  may 
know  my  faithfulness.  My  kingdom  shall  come,  &c.  Set  up 
with  power  and  great  glory,  and  be  extended  over  the  whole 
earth.  Thou  shalt  prophesy  to  many  nations,  and  thy  wife 
shall  be  with  thee  ;  and  when  you  have  finished  your  work,  you 
shall  both  of  you  together  ascend  up  to  heaven  like  Elijah  of  old. 
What  is  written  in  Revelations,  11th  chapter,  relates  to  you  and 
your  work.  The  second  conung  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  first 
resurrection,  will  not  take  place  till  after  your  ascension  to 
heaven." 

December  26lh,  18:^0— Sunday.   The  Lord  said,  the  key  of 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  93 

knowledge  is  given  unto  thee.    Thou  shalt  open  and  no  mau 
shut,  and  shut  and  no  man  open. 

December  27th,  1830.  Prayed  concerning  Sarah ;  asked  the 
Lord  to  show  whether  I  had  rightly  understood  his  promise  to 
raise  her  up  in  the  body,  and  if  she  would  be  with  me  in  the 
work.  The  Lord  said,-  Did  1  ever  give  you  a  stone  for  bread,  or 
a  serpent  for  a  fish. 

December  3lst,  1830 — evening.  Lord  Jesus,  this  is  the  season 
for  giving  and  receiving  gifts,  and  by  thy  help  I  have  given  to 
the  members  of  the  family  ;  and  now  I  come  to  thee,  O  Lord, 
and  pray  thee  to  condescend  to  me.  Lord,  thou  art  my  friend, 
my  helper.  Lord  Jesus,  I  would  give  thee  a  gift  and  ask  thee 
a  gift.  Lord  Jesus,  I  would  give  thee  my  heart,  and  I  would 
ask  thee.  Lord,  to  give  me  thy  heart  in  return — the  heart  thou 
hadst  while  on  earth.  That  meek  and  holy  heart,  filled  with 
love  to  God  and  man,  zeal,  wisdom,  purity,  and  every  grace. 

Afisioer.  My  son,  I  have  accepted  thy  gift,  and  thy  petition  is 
granted  unto  thee  to  the  uttermost.     Write  it  down. 

Lord  Jesus !  I  desire  of  thee  to  raise  up  and  restore  to  me 
my  companion  Sarah.  O  Lord,  let  it  be  for  my  New-year's 
gift.    Let  it  now  come  to  pass. 

Answer.  Thy  request  is  granted  unto  thee,  and  it  shall  be  done. 

Wednesday,  January  I2th,  1831.  Concerning  ordination,  the 
Lord  said,  "Thou  hast  nothing  to  do  :  thou  hast  committed  it 
to  me,  and  I  will  bl-ing  it  to  pass." 


The  following  is  without  date 


"  When  the  true  prophets  begin  to  appear,  they  will  be  holy 
men,  endued  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  They  will  preach  the  true 
doctrines  for  those  days.  These  doctrines  will  be  the  reverse 
of  what  the  false  teachers  are  preaching,  and  so  different  from 
what  people  have  believed,  that  for  a  time  they  will  be  consid- 
ered deranged,  mad,  wicked  persons.  There  will  then  be  a 
special  fulfilment  of  the  Saviour's  words,  John  xvi.  2,  4.  John 
XV.  20,  21. 

"  They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  synagogue — yea,  the  time 
cometh  that  whosoever  killelh  you  will  think  that  he  doeth  God 
service  ;  and  these  things  will  they  do  unto  you  because  they 
have  not  known  the  Father  nor  me." 

Extracts  might  be  multiplied  to  an  almost  indefinite 
extent,  all  written  in  a  kindred  spirit  of  love  to  God 


94  MATTHIAS    AND 

and  man,  and  extending  through  the  year  1S31,  and 
a  part  of  1832.  So  particularly  was  the  author  of 
these  strangely  wild,  and  yet  singularly  pious,  devo- 
tional effusions,  in  asking  counsel  of  God  on  every 
occasion  of  business  or  duty,  that  a  history  of  his 
worldly,as  well  as  of  his  religious  life,  might  almost  be 
compiled  from  his  prayers.  But  after  the  middle  of 
1S32  his  diary  seems  to  have  been  much  neglected — 
the  religous  fervour  which  it  previously  breathed 
in  every  sentence  had  evaporated  ;  until,  at  length, 
the  entries  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  mere  dry 
memoranda  of  dates  and  facts.  There  is,  moreover, 
throughout  all  his  prayers  one  peculiarity,  which 
may  not  have  caught  the  attention  of  the  reader. 
In  all  his  supplications  to  the  Saviour,  he  nowhere 
recognises  him  as  Christ,  or,  The  Anointed.  The 
words  "  Lord  Jesus"  occur  frequently  and  affection- 
ately, but  nowhere  does  he  say  "  Jesus  Christ ;"  and 
the  writer  has  been  informed  that  he  would  not  al- 
low the  consecrated  title  of  Christ  to  be  applied  to 
Jesus,  the  son  of  the  Blessed. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  Mr.  Pierson  removed 
from  Bowery  Hill  into  Fourth-street,  as  also  did 
Mrs.  *  *  * — occupying  a  part  of  the  same  house. 
The  dwelling  was  spacious,  and  Mr.  Pierson  re- 
served the  most  .ample  apartments  for  himself — 
the  laigest  of  which  was  fitted  up  as  a  chapel 
for  his  meetings,  and  consecrated  for  that  purpose. 
Mr.  Folger  at  the  same  time  removed  from  the  city 
to  Singsing — the  health  of  himself  and  wife  having 
been  but  indifferently  good  for  months,  and  a  coun- 
try residence  being  desirable.  Still  being  anxious 
to  receive  the  holy  ordinance  of  baptism  by  im- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  95 

mersion,  Ihey  were  baptized  at  Singsing  by  the 
llev.  Mr.  Frey,  and  were  admitted  into  the  fellow- 
ship and  communion  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  Bap- 
tist Church,  with  which  they  worshipped  until  their 
return  to  New-York  in  the  following  autumn. 

Mr.  Pierson  was  then  preaching,  to  use  his  own 
language,  like  Paul  at  Rome,  "  in  his  own  hired 
house,"  in  Fourth-street ;  Mr.  Folger  and  his  wife 
worshipped  for  a  time  with  a  Baptist  church  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  city,  until  Mr.  Pierson  again  ap- 
proached them  with  overtures  to  attend  the  meetings 
at  his  own  house.  Complying  with  the  request, 
they  found  him  preaching  that  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles were  to  be  revived  ;  and  he  urged  upon  them  to 
exercise  their  faith  in  the  Lord,  that  the  gifts  of  the 
apostles  might  be  restored  to  them — in  one  word,  that, 
like  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Chrjst,  they  might  be  en- 
abled to  heal  the  sick,  cast  out  devils,  and  raise  the 
dead.  He  likewise  continued  to  denounce  those 
errors  of  the  church  which  had  first  induced  him  to 
withdraw  from  the  South  Baptist  Church,  viz.  the 
renting  of  pews,  receiving  collections  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  paying  salaries  to  clergymen.  It  is  not 
to  be  denied  that  he  succeeded  in  making  some  im- 
pression upon  both  Mr.  Folger  and  his  wife  ;  but 
they  again  separated  in  April,  1832,  on  the  return 
of  Mr.  Folger  to  his  country  residence  at  Sing- 
sing.  Business  engagements  called  him  yet  farther 
into  the  interior  of  the  country  ;  and  the  first  infor- 
mation he  received  of  the  arch-deceiver,  in  whose 
toils  he  afterward  became  so  deeply  entangled,  of 
any  particular  note,  was  contained  in  the  newspapers, 
in  August  or  September,  1S32. 


MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  V. 

Another  extraordinary  case,  commencing  m  religious  depression 
— Frequent  mistakes  in  the  treatment  of  such  cases — The 
Patient  travels  to  New-Orleans — Thence  to  England  and 
France — Returns  to  New-York — Apparently  recovers  health 
and  elasticity  of  spirits — Becomes  acquainted  with  Mr.  Pierson 
— Falls  into  his  Views — Extraordinary  Fasting — Its  Eftects — 
Commences  Preaching — Extracts  from  Mr.  Pierson's  Diary — 
Appearance  of  Matthias  to  Pierson  and  his  new  Associate — 
His  Annunciation — They  receive  and  embrace  his  Doctrines 
— Remarkable  Coincidence — Pierson  becomes  John  the  Bap- 
tist— Heads  of  a  Sermon — The  Impostor  is  taken  to  the  house 
of  M.  H.  S. — Luxury  and  Extravagance — Rich  Costumes 
— Specimen  of  Matthias's  Orations — Further  Extracts  from 
Pierson's  Diary — Fancies  his  wife's  Spirit  inhabits  another — 
Remarkable  Notes — Letters  to  Mr.  Pierson. 

Among  the  attendants  upon  Mr.  Pierson's  preach- 
ing "  in  his  own  hired  house"  during  the  winter  and 
spring  of  1832  was  a  highly  respectable  merchant, 
instead  of  whose  name  the  letters  M.  H.  S.  will  be 
substituted,  and  of  whom  it  is  necessary  to  give 
some  account  in  detail.  He  was  naturally  of  a  con- 
templative mind,  ardent  in  his  attachments,  and 
withal  of  a  somewhat  enthusiastic  temperament. 
No  man  was  more  universally  esteemed  than  he,  for 
his  many  excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  by  all 
who  knew  him.  Until  the  month  of  January,  1S30, 
his  health  and  spirits  had  always  been  good.  An 
alteration  was  then  observed  in  his  conduct,  which, 
continuing  to  increase,  became  a  cause  of  uneasi- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  97 

ness  to  his  friends.  He  was  not  only  pensive,  but 
became  so  exceedingly  depressed  and  gloomy,  that 
serious  apprehensions  were  entertained  for  the  re- 
sult. At  length  he  took  a  friend  into  an  upper 
chamber  and  poured  out  the  burden  of  his  soul — the 
eternal  interests — the  salvation  of  which  was  now 
his  chief  concern.  Every  thing  that  tenderness  and 
sympathy  could  dictate  was  done  to  alleviate  his 
mental  sufferings  ;  but  for  a  long  time  without  any 
beneficial  effect.  It  was  a  case  of  deep  conviction 
of  sin, — a  soul  convinced  that  it  was  lost  without  the 
pardoning  mercy  of  God — feeling  itself  helpless — 
tortured  by  horrible  anticipations — trembling  under 
the  condemnation  of  the  violated  law,  as  proclaimed 
from  the  burning  mount  of  an  offended  Deity — and 
longing  to  hear  the  still  small  voice  of  mercy, — but 
ignorant  of  the  true  and  only  method  of  obtaining  par- 
don and  peace  by  the  simple  act  of  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  entire  surrender  of  the  heart 
to  Him.  This  depression  continuing  to  increase 
for  months,  he  was  advised  to  travel  for  the  benefit 
of  exercise  and  the  change  of  scenery. 

His  malady  having  been  pronounced  physical,  an 
able  physician  was  employed  to  travel  with  him,  and 
thus  several  months  were  occupied  in  a  visit  to  his 
parental  roof  in  Connecticut,  to  the  Springs,  and 
elsewhere.  But  all  to  no  purpose  :  the  disease 
was  a  wounded  spirit ;  and  for  such  a  malady  there 
is  but  one  medicine — the  balm  of  Gilead — and  but 
one  physician  to  apply  it.  And  here,  if  the  writer 
may  be  allowed  to  digress  for  a  moment  upon  this 
point,  he  would  offer  a  few  words  in  reference  to 
I 


98  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  too  frequent  treatment  of  persons  thus  sorrowing 
for  their  sins,  and  eager  to  escape  the  awful  penalty 
due  to  their  transgressions.  In  cases  of  genuine 
brokenness  of  heart,  where  the  sufferer  is  in  dark- 
ness and  "  has  no  light,"  in  the  view  of  the  writer, 
it  is  a  mistake  too  often  committed,  even  by  very 
pious  friends  and  counsellors,  to  attribute  the  de- 
pression— the  gloom — the  anguish  of  soul — in  the 
main  to  physical  causes.  The  patient  feels  that  it 
is  not  so — he  knows  that  it  is  not  so  ;  and  he  says 
with  Job,  in  his  own  bitterness  of  heart,  "  miserable 
comforters  are  ye  all.^'  The  truth  is,  there  are 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  excellent,  kind-hearted, 
and  deeply  religious  people,  whom  it  has  pleased  the 
Most  High  to  lead  gently  to  the  mercy-seat,-- upon 
whose  hearts  the  Holy  Spirit  has  breathed  without 
breaking  and  crushing  them  to  pieces, — and  who  do 
not,  and  cannot  truly  understand  and  sympathize  with 
those  who  are  called  to  pass,  as  it  were,  through  the 
very  flames  of  Sinai ;  who,  for  wise  purposes,  are 
kept  for  weeks,  and  months,  and  years  in  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death — in  the  depths  out  of 
which  the  Psalmist  cried  (Ps.  cxxx.),  and  whose 
anguish  of  soul — whose  agony — can  be  felt  by  none 
but  themselves.  For  such  cases,  the  best  counsel- 
lors and  comforters,  aside  from  God's  invitations 
and  promises  in  his  own  word,  are  those  Christian 
friends  who  have  been  called  to  pass  through  deep 
waters  themselves.* 


*  The  practical  books  which  the  writer  would  recommend 
for  such  cases  are,  first  of  all  (the  Bible  excepted),  Bunyan's 
"  Jerusalem  Sinner  Saved ;"  and  next  to  this,  "  Owen  on  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  99 

But  to  resume  the  narrative.  Returning  again 
to  the  city,  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  was  yet  more  gloomy 
than  before.  An  overland  journey  from  New-York 
to  New-Orleans  was  then  undertaken  for  his  diver- 
sion,— his  brother  and  another  friend  accompanying 
him.  This  journey  was  made  as  pleasant  as  pos- 
sible by  traversing  the  most  interesting  regions  of 
country,  but  with  little  or  no  improvement  of  the 
mind  of  the  sufferer.  There  were,  indeed,  short  in- 
tervals of  comparative  relief — moments  in  which  the 
rays  of  light  broke  through  the  gloom — but  they 
were  few  and  transient.  From  New-Orleans  they 
embarked  for  Liverpool,  although  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  did 
so  with  great  reluctance.  He  shut  himself  up  in 
the  cabin  for  many  days  in  a  state  of  the  most 
wretched  despondency.  Being  at  length  forced 
upon  deck  while  midway  of  the  ocean,  the  transition 
from  gloom  to  the  excess  of  joy  was  instantaneous. 
The  boundless  expanse  of  the  heaving  ocean,  and 
the  bright  sky,  seemed  to  give  him  the  most  extrava- 
gant delight.      But  it  was  soon  over  and  gone. 

After  visiting  Ireland,  and  the  British  and  French 
capitals,  they  returned  to  New-York  in  May,  1831. 
While  abroad,  he  was  unwilling  to  remain  an  hour 
in  any  one  place,  and  was  apparently  utterly  inat- 
tentive to  every  thing  around  him.  His  habits, 
during  the  whole  of  his  journeyings,  were  very  dc- 

cxxxth  Psalm."  "  Christ  our  Example,"  by  Caroline  Fry,  "  The 
Progressive  Experience  of  the  Heart,"  by  Mrs.  Stevens, 
"  Bickersteth  on  Prayer,"  and  the  incomparable  series  of  Ex- 
perimental Guides,  recently  published  by  the  Rev.  Robert  PhiHp, 
commonly  called  "  Philip's  Guides" — to  which  may  be  added, 
Abbott's  "  Comer-stone." 


100  MATTHIAS    AND 

votional,  both  in  regular  and  ejaculatory  prayer ;  and 
he  frequently  visited  clergymen  to  hold  conversa- 
tions, but  obtained  no  relief. 

The  summer  of  this  year  was  again  chiefly  spent 
in  travelling  ;  and  as  he  entered  upon  active  religious 
duties  his  mind  became  more  rational  and  composed. 
He  purchased  a  country  seat,  and  attached  himself 
to  a  Presbyterian  church  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and 
w^as  only  distinguished  from  other  professors  by 
his  activity  and  excess  of  zeal  in  the  temperance 
cause,  and  his  enthusiasm  in  religious  meetings.  In 
the  autumn  he  returned  to  the  city — declared  him- 
self well  and  happy — and  summoned  his  relations 
and  friends  around  him  to  celebrate  a  jubilee,  as  he 
called  the  occasion. 

He  now  resumed  his  business,  but  declared  his 
purpose  to  have  it  conducted  upon  different  princi- 
ples than  before.  He  determined  to  introduce  re- 
ligion into  the  store  ;  and  to  exhort  his  clerks  upon 
that  most  important  of  all  subjects,  begging  his 
friends,  however,  to  check  him  when  they  discovered 
symptoms  of  going  too  far.  'For  a  time  his  affairs 
proceeded  w^ell ;  his  tranquillity  of  mind  had  re- 
turned ;  and  he  had  become  peculiarly  happy  in  re- 
ligious contemplations,  and  in  deeds  of  benevolence 
and  charity. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  February,  1832,  that  he 
inquired  of  a  relative  whether  he  was  acquainted 
with  Elijah  Pierson.  It  subsequently  appeared  that 
he  had  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Pierson  on  the 
29th  of  December ;  and,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was 
himself  precisely  in  that  state  of  mind  to  be  operated 


HIS  nirosTURES.  101 

upon  by  so  sincere  and  excellent  a  man  as  that  gen- 
tleman was  universally  known  to  be — aside  from  his 
religious  hallucination,  of  which  his  new  acquaint- 
ance was  not  aware,  if,  indeed,  he  was  in  a  con- 
dition of  mind  to  appreciate  it.  Having  made  the 
inquiry  as  aforesaid,  he  proceeded  to  extol  Mr.  Pier- 
son  as  one  of  the  most  heavenly-minded  men  in  the 
world.  On  being  informed  that  Mr.  Pierson  was 
not  considered  to  be  exactly  in  his  right  mind,  he 
replied — "  Oh,  it  is  not  so  now."  He  then  spoke 
.of  the  manner  of  his  becoming  acquainted  with  him, 
and  described  the  meetings  at  his  house,  the  char- 
acter of  his  preaching,  &c.  He  was  again  cautioned 
by  his  anxious  relative,  and  informed  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  Mr.  Pierson  had  behaved  at  the  time 
of  the  death  of  his  Mafe.  All  this  he  admitted,  but 
added,  that  it  amounted  to  nothing  ;  and  even  if  he 
had  acted  in  a  rather  wild  and  eccentric  manner  on 
that  occasion,  he  was  now  one  of  the  most  perfect 
and  rational  men  in  the  universe.  Hitherto,  since 
his  return,  he  had  been  a  constant  attendant  upon 
church;  but  he  now  withdrew,  and  listened  only  to 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Pierson.  In  short,  their  views 
soon  became  perfectly  coincident,  and  withal  pro- 
foundly extravagant.  He,  too,  soon  commenced 
preaching,  and  the  new  spiritual  friends  held  their 
meetings  at  each  other's  house  alternately — each 
doing  the  preaching  in  his  own,  and  attended  by 
the  faithful  of  "  the  kingdom." 

His  next  step  was  the  adoption  of  Mr.  Pierson's 
system    of  fasting — and  even   going  beyond  him. 
On  one  occasion  he  fasted  rigidly  seven  days,  and 
J2 


102  MATTHIAS    AND 

at  another  time  attempted  to  fast  fourteen.  He 
wasted  away  to  a  mere  skeleton,  so  that  his  friends 
were  apprehensive  that  he  would  sink  down  in  the 
streets  from  exhaustion.  Day  after  day,  in  the  store, 
would  he  rinse  his  mouth  with  water,  taking  the  ut- 
most care  not  to  swallow  a  drop,  and  sometimes  he 
was  reduced  to  such  a  pass  as  to  be  revived  only  by 
the  application  of  Cologne  water.  His  practice 
was  to  walk  frequently  on  the  Battery  ;  and  on  one 
occasion  he  was  found  in  the  evening  prostrate  and 
helpless  from  starvation,  and  carried  home.  He 
was  continually  exhorting  others  at  the  store  to  fol- 
low his  example,  and  when  affectionately  admonished 
by  his  friends  of  the  consequences,  he  would  listen 
to  no  expostulations — but  replied  that  he  must  fast, 
and  God  would  tell  him  when  to  stop.  At  one  time 
a  clergyman  was  called  in  to  persuade  him  to  take 
food,  but  he  would  not ;  and  it  was  only  after  his 
friends  had  induced  Mr.  Pierson  to  come  and  urge 
him  to  eat,  that  he  would  listen  to  them. 

During  this  period,  Mr.  Pierson  continued  preach- 
ing as  usual ;  and  even  yet,  upon  all  subjects,  ex- 
cepting those  of  religion,  the  resurrection  of  his 
wife,  and  his  own  personal  relations,  both  to  this 
and  the  eternal  world,  he  was  apparently  as  sound 
in  his  intellect  as  any  man  in  the  city.  Neverthe- 
less, the  following  entry  occurs  in  his  journal  on 
the  occasion  of  the  burial  of  his  father,  Benjamin 
Pierson,  whose  funeral  he  attended  at  Morristown, 
on  the  12th  of  February  (1832) : — 

While  they  were  preparing  the  coffin  to  let  it  down  into  the 
grave,  these  words  were  spoken  to  ine  : — "  So  shall  they  bury 
thee,  and  tlie  third  day  thou  shalt  rise  again." 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  103 

Mr.  Pierson's  meetings  were  well  attended,  and 
converts  were  occasionally  added  to  his  flock,  some- 
times even  from  without  the  confines  of  the  city. 
Mrs.  *  *  *  having  visited  Newark,  made  a  proselyte 
there  of  a  Mrs.  D ,  whose  name  occurs  occa- 
sionally in  Mr.  Pierson's  private  meditations.  About 
this  time,  however,  she  seems  to  have  been  waver- 
ing ;  such,  at  least,  is  the  inference  from  the  follow- 
ing entry  in  the  diary  : — 

April  12,  1832.  Went  to  Newark.     Saw  and  conversed  with 

Mrs.  D ,  who  appeared  disturbed  in  her  mind  about  the 

kingdom,  and  afraid  to  come  to  the  Ught,  because  of  the  cross 
commg  out  of  her  present  connection.  She  felt  ashamed  of  me 
and  my  doctrine.  She  rejected  me,  and  the  Lord  rejected  her. 
Nevertheless,  she  shall  be  brought  in  through  great  bodily  suf- 
ferings, and  the  way  she  ought  now  to  have  come  in.  These 
words  came  to  my  mind  when  I  left  the  house — "  Ye  shall  see 
me  no  more  till  the  day  ye  slrall  say,  blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord."    Miss  B was  there  at  the  time. 

Three  days  afterward  the  following  entry  occurs, 
which  shows  that  the  condition  of  Mr.  Pierson's 
mind  remained  much  the  same  as  in  the  preceding 
autumn : — 

Wednesday  evening,  April  15,  1832.  Lord,  thou  didst  tell  me  to 
fast  and  pray  three  days,  and  begin  this  evening,  for  wisdom  to 
understand  the  Scriptures,  and  it  should  be  given  me.  O  Lord 
Jesus,  I  ask  thee  to  grant  me  wisdom  to  understand  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  the  gift  of  prophecy ;  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent ;  the 
harmlessness  of  the  dove  ;  ability  to  discern  spirits.  Grant,  also, 
what  thou  hast  promised — of  the  gifts  and  graces  thou  hadst  for 
the  performance  of  thy  nunistry— to  me,  for  the  work  thou  hast 
given  me. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  died  in  April,  on  which 
occasion  he  pronounced  a  funeral  discourse  himselfl 


104  MATTHIAS    AND 

By  this  bereavement  his  mind  became  of  course 
still  more  susceptible  of  striking  impressions.  In* 
deed,  both  Mr.  Pierson  and  himself  were  exactly 
in  a  state  of  mind  to  look  for  extraordinary  events ; 
and  thus  situated,  a  stranger  presented  himself  be- 
fore them  on  the  5th  of  May,  with  the  beard  of  a 
patriarch,  a  tall  form,  and  a  peculiar  cast  of  coun* 
tenance,  who  not  only  entered  into  all  their  extrava- 
gant notions,  or  rather  took  possession  of  them  as 
original  with  himself,  but  entertained  an  inexhaustible 
fund  of  kindred  extravagances,  which  they  construed 
into  new  light  and  wisdom,  on  the  momentous  sub- 
jects that  engrossed  their  contemplations.  With 
pretensions  sufficiently  high  to  fill  their  disordered 
imaginations,  they  at  once  received  him  as  a  being 
of  surpassing  excellence,  who  was  to  establish  the 
personal  reign  of  God  the  Father  (not  the  Messiah) 
upon  the  earth.  This  imposing  stranger  was  none 
other  than  Robkrt  Matthf/ws,  or  Matthias,  as  he 
proclaimed  himself.  He  declared  to  them  that  he 
was  the  Spirit  of  Truth  :  that  the  Spirit  of  Truth 
had  disappeared  from  the  earth  at  the  death  of  the 
Matthias  mentioned  in  the  New  Testament :  that 
the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  had  entered  into  that  Mat- 
thias, and  that  he  was  the  same  Matthias,  the  Apostle 
of  tlie  New  Testament,  who  had  risen  from  the 
dead,  and  possessed  the  spirit  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
That  he  (Jesus  Christ),  at  his  second  appearance, 
was  God  the  Father,  and  that  he  (Matthias)  was 
himself  God  the  Father,  and  had  power  to  do  all 
things,  to  forgive  sins,  and  communicate  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  such  as  believed  in  him.     He  was  not, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  105 

however,  always  consistent  in  regard  to  the  char- 
acter and  attributes  to  which  he  laid  claim.  A  re- 
ligious friend,  who,  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  the 
prophet,  and  the  extraordinary  proceedings  at  Pier- 
son's  house,  sought  an  opportunity  of  visiting  him 
there,  informs  the  writer,  that  he  did  not  exactly 
learn  from  him  then  that  he  claimed  to  be  the  Deity, 
or  the  Messiah.  But  he  nevertheless  declared  him- 
self, distinctly,  to  be  the  angel  spoken  of  in  Rev. 
xiv.  6,  7.  "  And  I  saw  another  an^el  fly  in  the 
midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  Gospel  to 
preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to 
evenj  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people^ 
saying,  with  a  loud  voice.  Fear  God,  and  give  glory 
to  him  ;  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment  is  come  :  and 
worship  him  that  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the 
sea,  and  the  fountains  of  waters.''^  Be  all  this,  how- 
ever, as  it  may,  neither  of  the  gentlemen  to  whom 
he  presented  himself  was  in  a  state  of  mind  then, 
or  afterward,  to  observe  discrepancies  of  this  char- 
acter. They  believed  all  that  he  set  forth  of  him- 
self, then  and  subsequently,  no  matter  how  extrava- 
gant or  how  blasphemous  ;  and  he  in  turn  recognised 
them  as  the  first  members  of  the  true  church,  which, 
after  two  years'  search,  he  had  been  able  certainly 
to  identify.  He  announced  to  them  that,  although 
the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth  began  with  his  public 
declaration  in  Albany  in  June,  1830,  it  would  not 
be  completed  until  twenty-one  years  from  that  date, 
viz.  in  1851  ;  previous  to  which  time  wars  would 
be  done  away,  the  judgments  finished,  and  the 
wicked  destroyed.     The  day  of  grace  was  to  close 


106  MATTHIAS    AND 

on  the  first  of  December,  1836,  and  all  who  by  that 
time  should  not  have  come  to  the  true  light,  or  at 
least,  who  should  not  have  begun  to  reform  before 
that  period,  were  to  be  cut  off.  Such  were  the  pre- 
tensions with  which  he  came  before  them,  and  such 
the  doctrines  he  poured  into  their  minds  and  ears  ;  all 
of  which,  and  many  more  matters  equally  ridiculous 
and  absurd,  they  received  with  unbounded  con- 
fidence, and  forthwith  looked  up  to  him,  as  to  a  ce- 
lestial being,  with  veneration  and  awe.  It  was  in- 
deed rendered  more  plausible  to  Mr.  Pierson,  prob- 
ably, by  the  coincidence  of  dates.  Matthews  had 
been  called  in  June,  1830,  and  so  had  he.  Mat- 
thews began  his  declaration  at  Albany  on  the  ninth 
of  June  (we  believe)  ;  he  had  declared  that  judg- 
ment was  proclaimed  at  Stillwater  on  the  nineteenth 
of  June  ;  and  he  had  completed  the  declaration  at 
Aroyle  on  the  twentieth — the  self-same  day  on 
which  Pierson  had  received  the  commission,  "  Thou 
art  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  and  thou  shalt  go  before  me 
in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  to  prepare  my  way 
before  me."  He  now  said,  that  from  the  date  of  that 
commission,  he  had  preachisd  that  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven  was  at  hand,  until  the  appearance  of  Mat- 
thias. John  the  Baptist  had  preached  that  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven  was  at  hand  until  the  Mes- 
siah came.  Elias,  as  everybody  knows,  was  only 
another  name  for  John  the  Baptist ;  and  hence  he 
concluded  that  the  spirit  of  John  the  Baptist  had 
taken  up  his  abode  in  him,  and  that  he  was  the  fore- 
runner of  Matthias.  The  latter  was  not  slow  to 
favour  this  deception,  and  Mr.  Pierson  was  thence- 


Ills    IMPOSTURES.  107 

forward  known  only  among  the  members  of  "  the 
kingdom"  as  John  the  Baptist ;  in  which  character 
he  evinced  the  docility  of  a  child,  and  the  sincerity 
of  a  true  disciple. 

When  Matthews  first  visited  Mr.  Pierson's  house, 
the  latter  was  absent  from  the  city  on  a  short  visit. 
Mrs.  *  *  *  and  her  family  having  previously  removed 
from  thence,  there  was  only  a  servant  at  home,  from 
whom  the  impostor  learned  the  day  on  which  IMr. 
Pierson  would  return ;  so  that,  probably,  he  was 
not  altogether  unprepared  for  the  reception  of  the 
stranger,  who  was  at  once  received  as  an  inmate  of 
the  establishment.  Their  time  was  for  a  few  days 
devoted  to  an  interchange  of  views  and  opinions 
upon  the  subject  of  religion,  and  preaching  alter- 
nately— Mr.  M.  H.  S.  being  an  attentive  and  en- 
raptured listener.  Among  Mr.  Pierson's  papers 
there  are  various  memoranda  of  what  seem  to  have 
been  questions  of  theological  discussion  between 
them.  There  are  likewise  notes  of  what  were 
probably  the  heads  of  a  sermon,  or  points  of  doc- 
trine, maintained  by  his  new  spiritual  guide.  The 
following  is  a  specimen,  and  may  have  been  a  cat- 
alogue of  the  abominations  denounced  by  the  prophet 
on  the  day  of  its  date. 

May  9,  1832. 
R.  Matthias  : — 

All  who  say  that  the  Jews  crucified  Jesus. 

"  that  the  first  day  of  the  week  is  the  Sabbath. 

"  that  immersion  with  the  clothes  on  is  baptism. 

"  that  sprinkhng  is  baptism. 

"  preaching  to  women  without  their  husbands. 

'*  who  drinketh  wine  in  bowls. 

"  who  eateth  the  Passover  in  a  lower  room, 


108  MATTHIAS    AND 

That  these  memoranda  combine  the  heads  of  one 
of  his  incongruous  discourses,  and  that  those  who 
practised  such  things  were  anathematized,  there  can 
be  no  question,  from  the  cu-cumstance  that  they 
were  frequently  the  objects  of  his  denunciations  af- 
terward. At  one  time  he  would  break  out  furiously 
against  all  men  who  wore  spectacles,  who,  he  said, 
would  be  damned  ;  at  another,  he  would  denounce 
bitterly  all  women  who  did  not  keep  at  home.  Like 
Sarah  of  old,  he  insisted  that  it  was  the  duty  of  wo- 
men to  remain  in  the  tent.  All  who  did  not  follow 
her  example  would  be  damned ;  and  such  like 
nonsense. 

Mr.  Pierson  very  soon  relinquished  preaching,  as 
did  Mr.  M.  H.  S.,  and  the  work  of  the  ministry 
devolved  alone  upon  Matthews,  who,  jealous  of  his 
dignity,  would  bear  no  rivals  near  his  throne.  He 
(Mr.  Pierson)  suffered  his  beard  and  nails  to  grow 
long,  in  imitation  of  his  new  master,  and  conformed 
in  all  respects  to  his  instructions.  The  reasons  as- 
signed for  thus  cultivating  the  beard  without  crop- 
ping it,  and  for  allowing  the  nails  of  their  fingers  to 
grow  uncut,  were,  that  unless  they  had  been  good 
things,  fitting  and  proper  to  be  worn,  men  would 
have  been  formed  without  them :  and  as  God  had 
formed  Adam  with  a  beard,  and  as  the  patriarchs 
and  Jevvs,  God's  chosen  people,  wore  their  beards 
long,  we  have  no  right  to  cut  them  off*.  This 
reasoning  was  conclusive.  The  houses  of  both 
gentlemen  were  thrown  open  to  him,  and  their  purses 
and  all  their  earthly  substance  placed  at  his  disposal. 
Indeed,  it  was  one  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  he 


:his  impostures.  109 

taught,  that  the  earth,  and  all  that  it  contained  was 
his  own  ;  and  he  practised  accordingly. 

The  prophet  was  now  invited  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence at  the  elegantly  turnished  residence  of  Mr. 
M.  H.  S.,  and  acceding  to  the  invitation,  he  re- 
mained with  him  three  months.  He  would  doubt- 
less have  done  so  longer,  had  it  not  been  for  what 
was  to  him  an  untoward  circumstance,  as  will 
appear  in  the  sequel.  The  best  apartments  in  the 
house  were  allotted  to  his  service,  and  the  whole  es- 
tabhshment  was  submitted  to  his  entire  control.  It 
was  not  long  before  he  arrogated  to  himself,  and  re- 
ceived divine  honours,  and  his  entertainer  washed 
his  feet  in  token  of  his  humility.  The  female  rela- 
tives of  the  family,  who  had  remained  there  after  the 
^cease  of  the  lady  of  the  house,  were  sent  away 
by  the  impostor,  and  he  allowed  no  women  to  reside 
there  but  the  black  domestics  who  were  of  the  true 
faith.  From  fasting,  he  taught  his  disciples  to 
change  their  system  to  feasting  ;  and  having  their 
houses  at  his  command,  and  their  purses  at  his  ser- 
vice ;  loving  the  good  things  of  this  world,  and 
taking  all  the  direction  in  procuring  supplies ;  they 
fared  sumptuously  every  day. 

But  this  splendid  style  of  living  was  not  enough. 
The  prophet,  as  the  reader  was  early  told,  was  vain 
of  his  personal  appearance,  and  proud  of  wearing 
rich  clothes.  It  was  now  necessary  that  he  should 
be  arrayed  in  garments  befitting  his  character,  and 
the  dignity  of  his  mission.  His  liberal  entertainer 
therefore,  at  his  suggestion,  accompanied  him  to  the 
most  fashionable  drapers  and  mercers  in  Broadway, 


110  MATTHIAS    AND 

of  whom  an  ample  wardrobe  was  ordered  and  ob- 
tained, made  of  the  richest  broad-cloths,  and  the 
finest   linens   that  could    be    procured — embracing 
every  variety  of  garment,  and  as  many  of  them  as 
he  chose — some  of  which  were  made   of  peculiar 
patterns,  and  worn  as  canonical  costumes  of  his 
own.     He  displayed  fine  cambric  ruffles  around  his 
wrists  and  upon  his  bosom,  and  to  a  rich  silken 
scarf,  interwoven  with  gold,  were  suspended  twelve 
golden  tassels,  emblematical  of  the  twelve  tribes  of 
Israel.     His  fine  linen  night-caps  were  wrought  with 
curious  skill  of  needlework,  with  the  names  of  the 
twelve  apostles  embroidered  thereon.     Thus  decked 
with  finery  at  the  expense  of  his  two  special  disci- 
ples, and  feasting  on  the  choicest  dainties,  under 
pretext  of  sacraments,  he  lived  upon,  and  with  them. 
Meetings  were  held  alternately  at  the  houses  of  the 
two  gentlemen,  where  he  declaimed  in  the  wild,  dis- 
jointed, and  incoherent  manner  already  described,  and 
often  with  considerable  energy  and  effect.     In  addi- 
tion to  his  own  immediate  followers,  many  others 
were  from  time  to   time  led   by  curiosity,  or   other 
motives,  to  attend  the  meetings,  who  were  as  often 
shocked  by  his  blasphemies,  as  amused  by  his  cru- 
dities.    Some  of  these  occasional  auditors  received 
special  invitations  from  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  to  attend,  and 
others  were  attracted  by  the  notices  which  he  posted 
at  his  place  of  business  and  elsewhere,  announcing 
that  Shiloh  would  preach  at  his  house  at  a  certain 
hour,  &c.      A  gentleman  who  was  drawn  thither  by 
curiosity,  has  furnished  the  writer  with  a  report  of  one 
of  his  desultory  harangues,  taken  down  in  short-hand 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  Ill 

at  the  time.  Being  brief,  it  is  here  inserted.  It 
will  be  seen  by  a  remark  in  the  discourse,  that  the 
cholera  was  then  prevailing  in  New- York. 

"  The  spirit  that  built  the  Tower  of  Babel  is  now 
m  the  world — it  is  the  spirit  of  the  devil.  The 
spirit  of  man  never  goes  upon  the  clouds — all  who 
think  so  are  Babylonians.  The  only  heaven  is  on 
the  earth.  All  who  are  ignorant  of  truth,  are  Nin- 
evites.  The  Jews  did  not  crucify  Christ, — it  was 
the  Gentiles.  Every  Jew  has  his  guardian  angel 
attending  him  in  this  world.  God  don't  speak 
through  preachers,  he  speaks  through  me,  his 
prophet. 

"John  the  Baptist,"  (addressing  Mr.  Pierson), 
"  read  the  tenth  chapter  of  Revelations."  After  the 
reading  of  the  chapter,  the  prophet  resumed  speak- 
ing, as  follows  : — 

"  Ours  is  the  mustard-seed  kingdom  which  is  to 
spread  all  over  the  earth.  Our  creed  is  truth,  and 
no  man  can  find  truth  unless  he  obeys  John  the 
Baptist,  and  comes  clean  into  the  church. 

"  All  real  men  will  be  saved  ;  all  mock  men  will 
be  damned.  When  a  person  has  the  Holy  Ghost, 
then  he  is  a  man,  and  not  till  then.  They  who 
teach  women  are  of  the  wicked.  The  communion 
is  all  nonsense :  so  is  prayer.  Eating  a  nip  of 
bread  and  drinking  a  little  wine  won't  do  any  good. 
All  who  admit  members  into  their  church  and  suffer 
them  to  hold  their  lands  and  houses — their  sentence 
is,  *  Depart  ye  wicked,  I  know  you  not.'  All  fe- 
males who  lecture  their  husbands,  their  sentence  is 


112  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  same.  The  sons  of  truth  are  to  enjoy  all  the 
good  things  of  this  world,  and  must  use  their  means 
to  bring  it  about.  Every  thing  that  has  the  smell 
of  woman  will  be  destroyed.  Woman  is  the  cap- 
sheaf  of  the  abomination  of  desolation — full  of  all 
deviltry.  In  a  short  time  the  world  will  take  fire 
and  dissolve — it  is  combustible  already.  All  wo- 
men, not  obedient,  had  better  become  so  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  let  the  wicked  spirit  depart,  and  be- 
come temples  of  truth.  Praying  is  all  mocking. 
When  you  see  any  one  wring  the  neck  of  a  fowl, 
instead  of  cutting  off  its  head,  he  has  not  got  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

"  All  who  eat  swine's  flesh  are  of  the  devil ;  and 
just  as  certain  as  he  eats  it,  he  will  tell  a  lie  in  less 
than  half  an  hour.  If  you  eat  a  piece  of  pork,  it 
"will  go  crooked  through  you,  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
will  not  stay  in  you,  but  one  or  the  other  must  leave 
the  house  pretty  soon.  The  pork  will  be  as  crooked 
in  you  as  rams'  horns,  and  as  great  a  nuisance  as 
the  hogs  in  the  street. 

"  The  cholera  is  not  the  right  word  ;  it  is  choler, 
which  means  God's  wrath.  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  are  now  in  this  world  :  they  did  not  go  up  in 
the  clouds  as  some  believe :  why  should  they  go 
there?  They  don't  want  to  go  there  to  box  the 
compass  from  one  place  to  another.  The  Christians 
now-a-days  are  for  setting  up  the  Son^s  kingdom. 
It  is  not  his  ;  it  is  the  Falher^s  kingdom.  It  puts 
me  in  mind  of  the  man  in  the  country  who  took  his 
son  in  business,  and  had  his  sign  made  '  Hitchcock 
&  Son,'  but  the  son  wanted  it  '  Hitchcock  &  Father,' 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  llS 

and  that  is  the  way  with  your  Christians  They 
talk  of  the  Son's  Idngdom  first,  and  not  the  Father's 
kinsdom." 


How  men  of  education  and  intelligence,  as  the 
two  principals  of  his  devotees  unquestionably  were, 
could  be  carried  away  by  the  utterer  of  such  far- 
ragos of  nonsense,  is  inconceivable.  If  monomania 
be  a  curable  disease,  one  would  suppose  that  such 
an  oration  would  be  a  sovereign  remedy.  But  the 
eccentricities  of  the  human  mind — who  can  trace 
or  understand  them ! 

But  although  the  impostor  had,  to  a  still  farther 
degree,  unsettled  the  mind  of  Mr.  Pierson,  he  had 
not  yet  erased  from  his  memory  the  recollection  of 
his  beloved  Sarah,  or  banished  the  idea  that  she 
was  to  be  restored  to  him  again.  The  following 
extracts,  however,  show  that  his  reason  was  becom- 
ing daily  more  disordered  and  wandering  : — 


Sunday,  June  24,  1832.  Second  anniversary  of  the  morning 
when  I  went  to  Sarah's  bedside,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
bid  her  arise  and  walk. 

She  gave  me  her  hand,  arose  from  the  bed,  and  walked  round 
the  room,  and  laid  down  again. 

It  appeared  to  me  that  this  was  a  pledge  of  her  future  resur- 
rection. 

While  meditating  on  this  subject,  the  union  God  has  estab- 
lished between  man  and  wife  was  brought  to  view  as  being  one 
flesh.  Sarah's  spirit  was  with  me.  It  appeared  as  if  we  were 
remarried.  She  called  me  Lord.  Several  remarkable  things 
occurred. 

Suppose  I  felt  as  a  husband  ought,  in  point  of  office.  She 
said,  J  have  peace,  my  Lord.  Again,  thou  hast  power,  and  this 
shall  be  a  sign  unto  you  that  these  things  were  real.  It  was 
according  to  her  word.  These  things  appeared  real,  except 
bodily  presence. 

K2 


114  MATTHIAS    AND 

Jtinn  29,  1832.  The  second  anniversary  of  Sarah's  death. 

In  answer  to  prayers  that  God  would  to-day  take  this  matter 
into  consideration  : 

This  is  my  counsel,  saith  the  Lord ;  Sarah  must  be  raised 
up  in  the  body,  and  be  restored  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 

The  spirit  of  Abraham  says,  I  can  do  nothing  without  Sarah. 
I  must  have  Sarah.  Sarah  says,  deliver  me,  husband — the  time 
is  come. 

This  is  my  counsel,  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah.  Write  no 
more.  This  is  my  covenant  with  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  in  the 
appointed  time  it  shall  be  done. 

It  was  said,  in  the  third  year  it  shall  be. 

John  the  Baptist  is  risen  in  thee,  and  will  direct  thee  in  things 
pertaining  to  his  office.  These  promises  are  all  sealed  to  thee. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord. 

Sunday,  July  1,  1832.  Anniversary  of  Sarah's  burial. 

Prayed  to  the  Lord  that  the  grave  might  no  longer  have 
power  to  hold  her  body. 

The  Lord  said,  "  I  have  promised  that  Sarah  should  be  raised 
up,  and  of  her  own  body  bear  thee  a  son  to  be  called  James. 
This  shall  be  done  at  the  appointed  time." 

Asked  Sarah,  Where  art  thou  ? 

Answer.  In  the  grave,  waiting  to  be  delivered.  Abraham, 
where  art  thou  ?  At  Sarah's  grave,  waiting  for  her  deliverance. 
I  can  do  nothing  without  her.  It  was  said  all  things  must  be 
done  according  to  God's  appointment. 


This  is  the  last  mention  the  writer  has  been  able 
to  find  among  the  papers  of  Mr.  Pierson  of  his  wife, 
whom  he  so  dearly  loved,  and  to  whose  memory  he 
so  fondly  clung.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that 
he  had  latterly  imbibed  the  singular  idea,  probably 
after  all  hope  of  her  resurrection  had  vanished,  that 
he  was  the  spiritual  husband  of  another — a  lady  who 
had  been  one  of  the  Bowery  Hill  association.  His 
later  belief  was,  that  after  the  decease  of  Mrs.  Pier- 
son,  her  spirit  had  entered  into  the  body  of  the  lady 
referred  to.  It  is  not  known  how,  or  exactly  when, 
this  strange  conceit  originated ;  but  it  is  not  more 


HIS   IMPOSTURES.  115 

surprising  than  many  other  features  of  his  melancholy 
hallucination.  Among  his  loose  papers,  however, 
are  two  anonymous  notes,  in  the  handwriting  of  a 
female,  which,  taken  in  connection  with  a  circum- 
stance or  two  that  will  presently  be  related,  render 
it  at  least  possible,  that  there  may  have  been  an 
artful  conspiracy  at  the  bottom  of  this  particular  in- 
stance of  delusion.  Mrs.  Pierson,  it  will  be  recol- 
lected, died  on  the  29th  of  June,  1830.  The  fol- 
lowing note  is  endorsed  in  Mr.  Pierson's  hand- 
writing— "  Received  July  20,  1830."  And  here  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  that,  connected  with  the  idea 
that  his  wife  would  be  raised  from  the  dead  and 
restored  to  him  on  earth,  was  the  farther  belief  that 
she  would  bear  him  a  son,  to  be  called  "  James." 
This  was  one  of  the  promises  which  he  had  received 
from  God,  and  which  he  has  recorded  as  the  answer 
to  his  prayers,  in  perhaps  fifty  places.  The  first 
note  is  as  follows  : — 

"When  my  cousip, was  engaged  in  prayer  a  few  days 

ago  with  Katy,  I  saw  a  vision  which  I  wns  directed  to  write  and 
send  to  you.  I  was  lost  a  few  minutes,  when  I  beheld  my 
cousin  walk  into  your  back-door  with  the  dress  which  she  usually 
wears.  She  passed  through  the  entn,',  and  went  into  the  par- 
lour. The  dilference  in  her  state  was,  that  she  was  big  with 
child  ;  and  I  thought  in  the  vision  that  she  was  at  ho7ne*m  your 
house.  I  knew  not  the  meaning  of  it,  but  was  constrained  to 
send  it  to  you.  Perhaps  the  Lord  will  show  you  the  interpret- 
ation. My  cousin  told  me  some  time  ago  that  the  Lord  had 
promised  her  a  son.  I  never  reahsed  that  it  would  be  so  until  I 
saw  the  vision." 

The  second  note,  in  the  same  handwriting,  and 
attached  to  the  first  by  a  wafer  by  Mr.  Pierson  him- 

*■  Italicized  in  the  original. 


116  MATTHIAS    AND 

self,  with  the  memorandum,  "  Received  27th  July, 
1830,"  is  as  follows  : — 

"I  thought,  sir,  that  an  apology  was  due  to  you  for  the  ab- 
rupt note  1  handed  you.  I  have  felt  quite  uneasy  about  it,  and 
wished  to  say  to  you,  that  after  I  had  the  vision,  I  thought  1 
mast  write  it ;  and  thought  1  had  better  tell  it  to  you  than 
cousin,  as  I  know  she  has  a  remarkably  pure  mind  ;  and  I  judged 
that  if  she  suspected  that  I  let^'ou  know  [it],  it  would  make  her 
feel  very  unpleasant.  I  have  taken  up  a  cross  in  making  it 
known  to  you  :  if  I  have  done  wrong,  be  kind  enough  to  for- 
give me." 

It  so  happens  that  there  was  a  very  remarkable 
counterpart  to  this  vision  of  the  writer  of  these  notes. 
The  lady  possibly  referred  to,  had  a  vision  on  a  cer- 
tain night — she  being  at  a  distance  from  the  city  at 
the  time — in  which  it  was  revealed  to  her,  that  she 
was  the  spiritual  wife  of  Mr.  Pierson.  And  she  be- 
lieved that  such  was  the  record  in  heaven.  This 
conviction  was  moreover  strengthened  by  another 
circumstance.  On  one  occasion,  her  husband  being 
absent,  she  prayed  very  fervently  that  the  first  person 
who  entered  her  door,  might  be  h9$^  It  happened 
shortly  afterward,  and  before  any  other  person  came 
in,  that  Mr.  Pierson  made  his  appearance ;  and  the 
good  lady  at  once  concluded,  that  although  it  had 
been  written  otherwise  on  earth,  yet,  in  the  records 
of  heaven,  Mr.  Pierson  and  herself  were  one. 
Subsequently,  on  comparing  notes  with  Mr.  Pierson, 
no  doubt  was  left  of  the  fact ;  since  it  appeared  that 
on  the  self-same  night,  he  had  had  a  similar  dream 
in  his  own  house.  On  discovering  the  coincidence 
they  joined  hands,  and  walking  into  another  apart- 
ment, where  a  third  person  was  sitting,  presented 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  117 

themselves,  and  mutually  declared  themselves  to  be, 
spiritually,  man  and  wife.  Whether  there  was,  or 
was  not,  any  connection  between  the  mysterious 
notes  which  have  been  quoted,  and  this  singular  in- 
cident of  the  delusion,  is  left  for  the  reader  to  deter- 
mine. 

For  the  purpose  of  showing  what  was  the  state 
of  mind  of  one  of  the  gentlemen  connected  with 
Pierson  and  Matthews,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are 
now  writing,  the  following  letters  are  inserted. 
They  were  addressed  to  Mr.  Pierson  while  on  a 
visit  to  his  friends  in  Morris  county  (N.  J.)  The 
name  of  the  writer  is  suppressed  : — 

"  New- York,  20th  July,  1832. 
"John  the  Baptist,  or  Dear  Pierson  : 

"I have  yonr  letter,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  well. 
The  angels  of  destrnction  are  making  dreadful  havoc,  but  do 
not  be  troubled  ;  they  are  reaping  the  tares.  The  harve-st  is 
begun,  and  not  a  single  blade  of  wheat  can  fall  or  be  injured. 

"  Katy  is  well,  and  at  the  '  Lord's  house'  often. 

"  Isabella  is  also  well. 

"  Matthias  is  still  ******,  thank  God  !  and  I  think  we  can 
no  longer  say,  '  whm  he,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come,'  &c. 
Surely  this  is  '  the  Kingdom  of  God.' 

"  The  money  you  spoke  of  I  can  use,  if  you  choose  to  send  it, 
and  on  your  return  will  place  it  in  a  satisfactory  shape.  I  will 
\enture  to  send  you  the  love  of  all '  the  kingdom.' 

Yours,  sincerely. 

"  New-York,  21th  July,  1832. 
"  Dear  Pierson, 
"  I  have  your  letter,  containing  twenty-six  hundred  dollars, 
which  is  placed  to  your  credit  until  I  see  you. 

"  You  speak  of  a  long  letter,  but  as  I  have  so  much  to  say, 
that  a  long  letter  would  be  only  a  beginning  ;  I  must  wait  until 
we  meet.  Thanks  to  the  blessed  God,  we  are  as  strong  as 
brass,  and  all  m  perfect  health  and  without  any  fear ;  for  the 
eternal  God  ir>  our  refuge  ;  it  can  be  nothing  else  that  can  give 


118  MATTHIAS    AND 

such  courage.  Can't  you  contrive  to  make  the  22d  of  next 
month  come  sooner  than  tliat  ? — John  the  Baptist  must  be  in 
his  place  before  we  can  move. 

"  Yours,  sincerely. 

"The  kingdom— the  kingdom — the  kingdom — and   nothing 
but  the  kmgdom  of  God." 

There  is  yet  another  chapter  to  follow,  before  the 
scene  changes  to  Singsing. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  119 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Luxurious  Habits  of  Matthews — Description  of  his  Person  and 
Costume — Efforts  to  attract  Observation— Interesting  and 
Remarliable  Interview  between  a  Gentleman  and  Matthews, 
Pierson,  and  M.  H.  S. — Claims  to  a  Divine  Character — Speci- 
men of  his  Preaching — Close  of  the  Interview — Visit  of  an- 
other Gentleman  to  the  house  of  M.  H.  S. — A.nother  of  the 
Prophet's  Lectures — Attempt  of  one  of  Pierson's  P'riends  to 
Rescue  him  from  the  Delusion — Meets  with  the  Prophet — 
The  Interview — His  Preaching — Visit  abruptly  terminated — 
The  New  Jerusalem — Strange  Conduct  of  a  Gentleman  in 
having  his  Plate  crested  with  Lions — Arrest  of  the  Prophet 
and  one  of  his  Disciples,  on  the  ground  of  Insanity — The  Im- 
postor is  shorn  of  his  Heard — Strange  Fancies  of  M.  H.  S.  at 
Bloomingdale— Pierson  takes  a  house  for  Matthews — Manner 
of  passing  the  Winter — The  Establishment  broken  up  in  the 
Spring — Suspected  Quarrel— Matthews  takes  Board  at  a 
Hotel — His  Conduct  there — Pierson's  Conversations  with  the 
Spirit. 

If,  as  we  have  seen,  Matthews  was  fond  of  dress, 
vain  show,  and  luxury  within  doors,  he  was  equally 
pleased  with  its  display,  even  to  ostentation,  without. 
His  two  chief  disciples  having  ample  means,  he  in- 
duced them  to  set  up  elegant  carriages  for  his  ac- 
commodation ;  and  there  was  seldom  a  fine  day  in 
the  summer  of  1832,  upon  which  he  did  not  display 
his  beard,  his  costume,  and  his  carriage  in  Broad- 
way— accompanied  frequently  by  Mr.  Pierson  and 
his  two  children,  or  by  the  other  gentleman  of  whom 
we  have  spoken  at  large  in  the  preceding  chapter. 


120  MATTHIAS    AND 

When  not  rolling  in  his  landau,  he  was  frequently  in 
the  street,  particularly  during  the  hours  of  fashion- 
able promenading — dropping  in  occasionally  at  the 
bookstores,  and  sometimes  venturing  into  an  office 
of  resort  in  "Wall-street,  always  preaching  and  ex- 
horting in  the  same  rambling  and  incoherent  manner, 
already  so  often  described — often  with  shrewdness 
and  momentary  energy — and  never  better  pleased 
than  to  find  himself  the  observed  of  all  observers. 

On  bright  afternoons,  when  the  Battery  was  sure 
to  be  thronged  by  fashionable  loungers,  seeking  to 
kill  an  idle  hour,  and  by  hundreds  of  people  desirous 
of  inhaling  the  invigorating  breezes  from  the  ocean, 
Matthews  was  in  the  frequent  practice  of  exhibiting 
himself  to  the  multitude,  though  not  exactly  mingling 
in  the  throng.  Selecting  well  his  hour  for  attracting 
the  greatest  share  of  attention,  he  would  arrive  at 
the  Battery-gate  in  a  superb  dark  carriage,  drawn 
by  a  noble  pair  of  horses,  and  accom.panied  by  Mr. 
Pierson  and  his  children.  Descending  from  the 
carriage  with  dignity  and  deliberation,  he  would  take 
the  children  by  the  hand  at  either  side,  and  thus, 
with  stately  and  measured  tread,  walk  to  and  fro 
upon  the  lawn,  Mr.  Pierson  in  constant  and  rever- 
ential attendance,  for  an  hour  or  more — until,  having, 
as  he  supposed,  made  a  sufficient  exhibition  of  his 
person,  he  would  retire  with  the  gravity  with  which 
he  came — making  far  less  impression,  probably, 
upon  the  multitude  than  he  fancied  or  desired. 

In  person  he  is  tall  and  well-made,  although  very 
thin — what  is  sometimes,  and  very  aptly,  called 
"  bony."     His  height  is  about  five  feet  ten  or  eleven 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  121 

inches,  and  his  frame  well-proportioned,  although 
his  gait  is  somewhat  awkward,  and  his  movements 
ungraceful.  His  walk  was  always  slow,  and  not 
wanting  in  stateliness,  or  at  least  that  assumption 
of  it  which  is  to  be  obtained  by  deliberation,  an 
erect  carriage,  and  a  careful  avoidance  of  all  hurry 
or  precipitation.  His  face  is  sharp — complexion 
sallow — eyes  of  a  cold  light  gray — and  hair  and 
beard  long,  thick,  coarse,  and  of  a  peculiar  hue, 
which  is  better  expressed,  perhaps,  by  the  word 
ashy,  than  any  other.  They  have  originally  been 
of  a  dark  brown,  but  are  now  profusely  sprinkled 
with  silver-gray — the  union  forming  that  singular 
mixture  we  have  attempted  to  describe.  He  always 
wore  his  hair  long,  and  parted  in  waving  masses 
upon  each  aide  of  his  head,  leaving  a  well-defined 
line  of  separation  running  longitudinally  along  the 
top  of  his  cranium.  His  beard,  equally  coarse  with 
his  hair,  and  still  more  inclined  to  curl,  was  thick 
and  bushy,  and  covered  his  breast  to  the  depth  of 
eight  or  ten  inches  below  the  neck.  He  also  wore 
thick  mustaches  on  the  upper  hp,  and  these,  being 
of  great  length,  united  so  completely  with  the  beard 
on  either  side,  as  almost  entirely  to  conceal  his 
mouth.  The  coarseness  of  his  hair  and  beard  not 
being  discernible  at  a  short  distance,  from  the  great 
care  with  which  they  were  kept,  and  the  profusion  of 
ringlets  clustering  over  his  shoulders,  they  were  es- 
teemed very  beautiful.  When  conversing,  or  sitting, 
as  he  often  would,  silent  and  in  apparent  meditation, 
he  was  in  the  almost  constant  habit  of  cherishing  his 
beard  and  mustaches — smoothing  them  down  with 
L 


122  MATTHIAS    AND 

his  long  slender  fingers,  and  seeming  to  take  great 
delight  in  feeling  them.  The  predominant  expres- 
sion of  his  countenance  is  a  cold  severity  ;  but  with 
this  there  is  mingled  great  shrewdness  of  aspect- 
and,  very  often,  an  air  of  deep  abstraction. 

His  most  usual  costume  while  exhibiting  himself 
in  the  streets  of  New- York,  or  upon  the  Battery,  as 
we  have  described,  was  a  black  cap  of  japanned 
leather,  in  shape  like  an  inverted  cone,  with  a  shade  ; 
a  frock-coat,  generally  of  fine  green  cloth,  lined 
with  white  or  pink  satin  ;  a  vest,  commonly  of  richly 
figured  silk ;  a  sash  of  crimson  silk  around  his 
waist ;  green  or  black  pantaloons,  sometimes  with 
sandals,  and  at  others  Wellington  boots  (always 
highly  polished),  and  worn  outside  of  the  pantaloons  ; 
with  a  black  stock  around  his  neck.  As  we  have 
already  remarked,  he  was  evidently  very  fond  of 
rich  and  showy  dresses,  and  seldom  appeared  two 
days  in  succession  in  the  same  apparel.  Some  of 
his  coats  were  richly  decorated  with  braid,  and  frogs, 
and  costly  buttons  ;  but  in  shape  they  were  always 
the  same,  at  least,  so  far  as  the  observation  of  the 
writer  has  extended,  being  the  kind  indifferently 
called  frock,  or  Wellington.  Altogether,  his  ap- 
pearance was  striking  and  calculated  to  attract  no- 
tice, but  not  remarkably  imposing. 

It  was  during  the  same  season — the  summer  of 
1832— while  residing  with  Mr.  M.  H.  S.,  though 
spending  a  good  portion  of  his  time,  as  we  have 
seen,  with  Mr.  Pierson,  that  a  remarkable  interview 
took  place  between  Matthias  and  his  two  chief  dis- 
ciples and  another  gentleman,  which  is  not  only  in- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  128 

teresting  in  itself,  but  will  serve  strikingly  to  illus- 
trate the  state  of  mind  under  which  at  least  two  of 
the  parties  were  labouring.  The  gentleman  re- 
ferred to  has  great  strength  and  precision  of  memory, 
and  the  narrative  has  been  carefully  taken  by  the 
writer  from  his  own  lips.  For  the  purpose  of  pre- 
serving the  scene  in  a  dramatic  form,  the  gentleman 
referred  to  will  be  called  Hervey.  It  is  as  follows : — 
One  morning  in  the  summer  referred  to,  Mr.  M. 
H.  S.  called  upon  Mr.  Hervey,  and  inquired  whether 

he  would  attend  a  meeting  at  his  house,  in 

street,  at  half-past  three  o'clock  that  afternoon.  He 
added  that  he  had  the  privilege  of  entertaining  under 
his  roof,  the  most  extraordinary  man  that  ever  set 
his  foot  upon  this  earth. 

J\Ir.  Hervey.  You  do  not  presume  to  say  that  he 
was  a  greater  man,  or  a  greater  being,  than  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  surely? 

M.  H.  S.  Sir,  it  is  Shiloh  himself:  He  who 
was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come. 

J\L\  Hervey.  Sir,  you  will  excuse  me  from  attend- 
ing a  meeting  where  such  a  being  as  you  represent 
is  to  officiate. 

JVf.  H.  S.  But  I  am  extremely  desirous  that  you 
should  hear  the  words  of  wisdom  which  continually 
flow  from  the  lips  of  this  extraordinary  personage. 

JV[r.  Hervey.  Well,  since  you  are  so  desirous 
that  I  should  see  him,  in  order  to  gratify  you  I  will 
call  upon  you  after  the  meeting  shall  be  over,  if  you 
will  name  the  hour. 

M.  H.  S.  At  about  five  o'clock,  sir. 

And  here  the  morning  interview  terminated.     At 


124  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  hour  designated,  the  gentleman  presented  him- 
self at  the  house  of  the  merchant  who  had  been  so 
desirous  of  procuring  an  interview,  where  he  was 
cordially  received,  and  conducted  into  the  front 
parlour.  Judging  from  the  number  of  benches, 
chairs,  and  other  seats  in  the  apartment,  it  appeared 
as  though  there  had  been  a  meeting  of  considerable 
magnitude.  They  had  all  retired,  however,  with 
the  exception  of  one  person — an  individual  who  was 
sitting  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  in  the  most  humble, 
meek,  and  docile  attitude  that  can  be  imagined. 
His  beard  was  bristling  out  about  an  inch  long,  and 
his  hair — like  his  beard,  black  as  jet — was  parted 
over  his  forehead,  after  the  manner  of  the  pictures 
of  the  Messiah.      The  following  dialogue  ensued  : — 

J\Ir.  Hervey.  Is  that  the  gentleman  to  whom  you 
alluded  as  being  the  Shiloh  ? 

M.  H.  jS.  Oh  no,  sir !  This  is  John  the  Bap- 
tist. 

John  the  Baptist.  Who  is  not  worthy  to  unloose 
even  the  shoe-latches  of  the  one  who  is  up-stairs. 

On  approaching  yet  nearer  to  this  grotesque  and 
demure-looking  gentleman,  and  scrutinizing  him 
closely,  the  dialogue  was  continued. 

J\lr.  Herveij.  Why,  you  are  my  old  friend  Pier- 
son,  whom  I  have  met  abroad.  Surely  (surveying 
him  yet  more  closely)  you  are  Elijah  Pierson  ; 
nothing  more  or  less.  And  do  you  presume  to  say 
that  you  are  the  veritable  John  the  P>aptist  ?  Surely 
you  do  not  pretend  to  say  that  this  head  upon  your 
shoulders  (laying  his  hand  upon  his  head),  is  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  125 

very  identical  head  that  was  taken  off  by  Herod,  and 
brought  to  his  daughter  in  a  charger  1 
JW.  H.  S.   The  very  same. 

Mr.  Pierson.  No  :  I  do  not  mean  to  be  under- 
stood as  saying  that  this  head  of  mine  is  the  very 
same  head  that  was  cut  from  the  body  of  John  the 
Baptist ;  but  I  mean  to  say,  that  the  spirit  of  EHjah 
Pierson,  leaving  this  tabernacle  (significantly  point- 
ing to  his  heart),  the  spirit  of  Elijah  the  Prophet 
theretipon  entered,  and  abode  for  awhile  ; — and  that 
now  the  spirit  of  John  the  Baptist  has  taken  the 
place  of  that  of  Elijah.  And  therefore  I  may  justly 
be  considered,  and  am,  in  fact,  and  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  John  the  Baptist. 

Here  a  somewhat  general  conversation  ensued — 
Mr.  Hervey  urging  upon  the  deluded  man  the  ab- 
surdity of  his  conduct  and  pretensions.  Among 
other  matters,  Mr.  Hervey  inquired  why  he  dis- 
figured himself  by  suffering  his  beard  to  grow  thus. 

Mr.  Pierson.  Jesus  Christ  wore  a  long  beard 
when  upon  earth,  and  we  are  commanded  to  follow 
his  example  in  all  things. 

After  pursuing  the  conversation  for  some  minutes, 
Mr.  Hervey,  turning  to  Mr.  M.  H.  S.,  inquired  : — 

"  Do  you  really  pretend  to  say  that  you  have  under 
this  roof  a  being  who  styles  himself  Shiloh  ?" 

M.  H.  S.  The  very  self-same  being,  sir,  and 
who  has  told  me  all  things  that  ever  I  did.  But 
you  shall  see  and  judge  for  yourself,  sir. 

Saying  which,  he  left  the  apartment  and  ascended 
the  stairs  in  the  hall.  Returning  presently,  he 
said  : — 

L2 


126  MATTHIAS     AND 

"  Prepare  yourself  to  receive  him  who  was  the 
first  and  the  last— the  great  I  AM  !" 

A  noise  of  footsteps  moving  slowly  across  the 
floor  above  was  now  heard,  from  whence  the  sounds 
descended  the  stairs,  and  some  person  entered  the 
back  parlour,  communicating  with  the  front  by  fold- 
ing-doors. 

M.  H.  S.  Let  us  rise,  and  prepare  for  his  re- 
ception. 

No  sooner  said  than  done  :  and  the  folding-doors 
being  at  the  same  instant  thrown  open  by  a  servant 
stationed  on  the  other  side  for  that  purpose,  behold, 
there  stood  a  being  of  whose  appearance  some  idea 
may  perhaps  be  formed  from  the  description  already 
attempted  to  be  given.  "  Figure  to  yourself,"  says 
Mr.  Hervey,  "  a  full- sized  man,  with  a  full  head  of 
hair,  parted  over  the  top,  and  falling  down  in  cluster- 
ing curls  over  his  shoulders  ;  a  long  beard,  extend- 
ing down  his  breast,  midway  of  his  body,  and  cov- 
ering nearly  the  whole  of  his  face  to  the  eyes,  which 
were  small  and  sunken,  but  sharp  and  piercing." 
He  had  on  a  bottle-green  frock-coat  of  the  finest 
quality ;  white  pantaloons  and  waistcoat ;  with  a 
broad  crimson  sash,  richly  inwrought  with  gold* 
around  his  body.  To  this  were  suspended  the 
twelve  golden  tassels  already  described,  and  he 
wore  ruft^les  around  his  wrists.  This  singular  figure- 
approached  with  a  very  slow  and  majestic  step,  and 
proflfered  his  hand  to  the  stranger,  but  from  which 
the  latter  withdrew,  saying  : — 

"  No,  sir ;  excuse  me,  if  you  please.     If  you 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  127 

are  what  you  pretend  to  be,  I  am  certainly  not 
worthy  to  take  you  by  the  hand — " 

M.  H.  S.  Bravo !  (flying  into  his  embrace  and 
kissing  him.) 

Mr.  Herveij.  But  stop  :  I  had  not  finished  my 
sentence.  It"  you  are  not  what  you  pretend  to  be, 
sir,  then  you  are  not  worthy  to  take  me  by  the 
hand. 

At  this  turn  of  the  period,  there  was  some  confu- 
sion. John  the  Baptist  kept  his  seat  with  the  most 
imperturbable  composure,  but  M.  H.  S.  uttered 
some  ejaculations  of  surprise  at  the  indignity  with 
which  his  Shiloh  was  treated,  that  are  not  retained. 
The  prophet  drew  himself  up  with  dignity,  and 
frowned  for  an  instant  as  he  supposed  with  terror. 
Presently,  however,  the  gathering  storm  passed 
away,  and  Shiloh,  M.  H.  S.,  and  Mr.  Hervey  seated 
themselves  together  upon  the  sofa — upon  which  lay 
an  open  Bible. 

Mr.  Hervey  commenced  a  conversation  by  put- 
ting a  question  to  him  touching  his  pretensions,  and 
desiring  to  know  whether  they  were  willing  to  enter 
into  a  discussion  as  to  the  truth  of  his  assumptions 
— adding,  that  he  knew  of  no  other  standard  of 
truth,  than  that  blessed  volume  (pointing  to  the 
Bible). 

The  Prophet.  In  my  presence  there  is  no  other 
speaker  than  myself;  and  if  a  plurality  of  speakers 
is  necessary,  I  shall  at  once  leave  the  room. 

JVfr.  Hervey.  I  have  come  here  for  discussion, 
rather  than  for  information.     My  religious  principles 


128  MATTHIAS    AND 

are  fixed  ;  and  my  faith,  and  all  my  hopes  of  future 
salvation,  are  derived  from  that  sacred  volume. 

J\I.  H.  S.  The  being  in  whose  presence  you  are 
was  present  when  that  Bible  was  made  ;  of  course 
it  must  be  taken  for  granted  that  he  understands  its 
doctrines  better  than  any  of  us  do. 

Finding,  however,  very  soon,  that  there  was  to  be 
no  discussion,  and  discovering,  by  repeated  attempts, 
that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  in  a  word  edge- 
wise, yet  desirous  of  hearing  something  from  the 
oracle,  Mr.  Hervey  contented  himself  to  remain  for 
a  short  time  a  silent  listener. 

The  prophet  thereupon  began  a  discussion,  pour- 
ing forth  a  tissue  of  greater  absurdities  than  can  well 
be  conceived — mingled  with  shocking  blasphemies. 
There  were,  to  be  sure,  occasionally,  quotations  from 
the  Scriptures,  the  Old  Testament  in  particular,  and 
chiefly  from  the  writings  of  Moses,  fluently  cited  in 
support  of  his  pretensions,  and  sometimes  adroitly. 
But  there  was  so  much  of  wickedness  and  nonsense 
mixed  up  in  his  harangue, — with  now  and  then  a  few 
grains  of  sense  among  his  crudities — that  Mr.  Her- 
vey's  patience  became  exhausted.  The  whole  per- 
formance was  disgusting  from  its  profanity,  and  the 
ignorance  of  the  impostor,  notwithstanding  his  famil- 
iarity with  the  language  of  Scripture,  too  disgustino" 
indeed,  for  repetition.  One  or  two  of  his  assertions, 
will  be  cited  for  examples.  For  instance,  he  de- 
clared that  on  the  9th  of  July,  1836,  time  should  be 
no  more  ;  that  the  consummation  of  all  things  would 
take  place  ;  that  the  Gentiles  would  all  be  damned, 
and  none  but  the  Jews  be  saved. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  129 

Mr  Ilerveij.  But  how  is  that  1  If  so,  and  such 
is  to  be  the  fate  of  all  the  Gentiles,  our  friends  M. 
H.  S.  and  Pierson,  here,  are  after  all  to  be  damned ! 

M,  H.  S.   Oh  !  but  I  am  a  Jew  ! 

J\Ir.  HetTeij.  A  Jew  !  how  is  that  ? 

The  Prophet.  Why,  several  generations  since, 
one  of  his  ancestors  married  a  Jewess,  and  he  has 
therefore  sufficient  Jewish  blood  running  in  his  veins 
to  save  him. 

JVf.  //.  S.  And  as  to  Pierson,  as  you  call  him, 
you  forget  that  he  is  John  the  Baptist,  and  is  there- 
fore a  Jew  of  course. 

The  oration  having  been  thus  interrupted,  was  not 
resumed  ;  but,  during  its  utterance,  both  the  host  and 
Pierson  seemed  to  drink  in  every  word  of  it,  with 
as  much  eagerness  as  though  the  impostor's  lips 
had  really  been  touched  with  the  live  coal  from  the 
altar ;  as  though  his  incoherent  ravings  were  in 
truth  the  words  of  more  than  mortal  tongue.  In- 
deed, it  was  the  custom  of  these  two  disciples  to  sit 
hour  upon  hour,  and  day  after  day,  gazing  with  rap- 
ture on  the  countenance  of  their  prophet,  and  rolling 
every  sentence  he  uttered  as  a  sweet  morsel  under 
their  tongues.  One  of  them  would  kiss  his  feet  in 
token  of  reverence  and  humihty.*     "  Look  there  !" 

*  Washing  the  prophet's  feet,  and  also  each  other's,  by  his 
followers,  was  common  among  them.  The  following  entries 
upon  this  subject  are  from  Pierson's  diary  : — 

May  5th,  1832.  Washed  R.  Matthias's  feet. 

Nov.  lOih.  Washed  Michael  H.  B 's  feet. 

Dec.  15th,  evening.  The  Lord  directed  me  to  have  my  liset 
washed.     Mrs.  B ■  and  Isabella  also  washed  each  other's. 


130  MATTHIAS    AKD 

said  S.  to  a  friend  at  his  house,  one  day  ;  "  did  you 
notice  the  hair.upon  his  upper  hp,  how  it  looks  hke 
a  lion  !  I  tell  you  sir,  he  is  a  hon — he  is  the  lion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah  !" 

It  was  now  past  six  o'clock  ;  and  it  was  moreover 
a  day  on  which  the  twelve  apostles  were  to  partake 
of  their  love-feast — for  which  purpose  the  table  was 
now  spreading  in  another  apartment.  Mr.  Hervey 
was  invited  to  remain  and  partake — Mr.  M.  H.  S. 
assuring  him  that  he  should  positively  sup  with  the 
twelve  Apostles.  But  the  invitation  was  declined. 
Having  seen  and  heard  enough  to  satisfy  his  curi- 
osity, Mr.  Hervey  then  took  his  departure — adding, 
emphatically,  in  conclusion — "  that  by  such  pro- 
ceedings, they  were  assuming  responsibilities  which 
he  would  not  bear  for  worlds."  He  recommended 
them  to  search  the  Scriptures ;  for  therein  they 
would  find  that  there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven 
given  among  men,  whereby  they  can  be  saved,  but 
the  name  of  Jesus  ;  and  he  hoped,  that,  one  and 
all,  they  would  yet  be  brought  to  a  saving  knowledge 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Him.  He  then  departed, 
resolving  within  himself,  as  soon  as  an  opportunity 
should  offer,  to  warn  these  deluded  men  to  be  on 
their  guard  against  the  arts  and  designs  of  this 
wicked  impostor.  Events,  however,  soon  con- 
spired to  prevent  such  another  interview  with  Mr. 
Pierson  and  his  companion  in  the  delusion,  as  he 
desired  to  procure ;  arid  his  purpose  was  frustrated. 

After  this  was  done,  prayed  with  them,  and  ate  supper,  breaking 
the  bread.     It  was  a  very  solemn  time,  and  the  Lord  was  there 

The  Lord  gave  good  promises  respecting  Mrs,  B and  Jsa- 

bella. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  131 

Another  gentleman,  who  dined  several  times  with 
the  disciple  of  Matthews,  at  whose  house  the  scene 
just  described  took  place  in  company  with  the 
prophet,  and  whose  lectures  he  also  attended  at  the 
same  place  on  two  or  three  occasions,  has  furnished 
the  writer  with  a  few  particulars.  At  the  time  of 
his  first  invitation,  he  was  not  apprized  that  he  was 
to  meet  any  extraordinary  personage.  But  on  his 
arrival  at  the  house  of  his  friend,  he  was  gently  ad- 
monished thus  :  "  You  will  not  be  afraid  of  a  long 
beard,  I  trust." — "  Oh  no,  not  at  all,"  replied  the 
gentleman.  "  But  why  do  you  make  such  a  re- 
mark V  He  replied,  in  substance,  that  the  Almighty 
was  under  his  roof,  and  that  he  was  to  dine  with 
him.  The  guest  being  aware  that  his  host  had  been 
labouring  under  strong  and  peculiar  religious  ex- 
citement, turned  the  remark  by  saying  that  he  should 
be  glad  to  see  him,  or  words  equivalent. 

The  gentleman  referred  to  informs  the  writer  that 
the  discourses  which  he  heard  were  delivered  with 
not  a  little  pathos,  to  some  fifty  or  sixty  persons, 
male  and  female,  and  that  at  times  he  displayed 
considerable  ingenuity.  Upon  one  occasion,  he 
enumerated  about  a  dozen  classes  of  persons,  against 
whom,  he  said,  the  same  denunciation  would  be 
pronounced  at  the  day  of  judgment.  One  of  which 
was  merchant  tailors,  who  hired  women  at  four  shil- 
lings a  week  :  the  denunciation  would  be,  "  Depart 
from  me  ye  workers  of  iniquity^  I  know  you  not." 
This  was  repeated  in  a  stentorian  voice,  at  the  naming 
of  each  class.     In  the  same  discourse,  he  said,  that 


132  MATTHIAS    AND 

whosoever  offended  John  the  Baptist,  (pointing  to 
Mr.  Pierson  and  calhng  him  by  name),  or  my  beloved 
son  (pointing  to  the  gentleman  of  the  house,  and 
naming  him),  I  pronounce  a  curse  upon  him,  and  it 
will  take  effect :  but  whoever  applies,  in  good  faith 
and  sincerity  of  heart,  to  John  the  Baptist,  he  will 
hand  him  over  to  me,  and  /  ivill  insure  him  a  seat 
in  heaven. 

"  Upon  these  occasions,"  adds  the  gentleman, 
"  the  prophet  was  decorated  with  a  superb  palla  or 
robe,  from  different  parts  of  which  were  suspended 
twelve  large  silk  tassels,  said  to  be  intended  to 
typify  the  twelve  tribes  of  Is4-ael.  He  was  begirded 
round  the  waist  with  the  elegant  red  silk  sash  here- 
tofore spoken  of.  These,  with  a  reverential  flowing 
beard,  from  six  to  eight  inches  in  length,  such  as 
the  ancient  saints  used  to  wear,  gave  him  a  very 
imposing  appearance.  At  table  he  was  served  with 
a  silver  goblet,  while  the  rest  of  the  company  were 
furnished  with  common  glass  tumblers.  Nothing, 
however,  was  drunk  at  dinner  but  water.  In 
short,  the  whole  affair  was  conducted  with  decorum^ 
and  well  calculated  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
the  ignorant  and  superstitious  the  reality  of  the  char- 
acter assumed  by  the  principal  actor  in  the  farce." 

Having  heard  much  of  the  increasing  extrava- 
gances of  his  unhappy  friend,  and  of  his  recent  con- 
nection with  a  man  believed  universally  to  be  a 
base  impostor,  Mr.  Pierson's  former  pastor  re- 
solved upon  one  more  effort  to  visit,  and,  if  possible, 
to  reclaim  him.  He  repaired  to  his  house,  there- 
fore, with  great  anxiety.      On  his  entrance,  his  sur- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  133 

prise  and  astonishment  were  unbounded  at  behold- 
ing him.  When  he  had  last  seen  him,  from  long 
and  frequent  fastings,  he  had  become  almost  wasted 
to  a  skeleton ;  but  the  appearance  of  his  person 
now  betokened  any  thing  rather  than  abstemiousness 
in  diet.  His  beard,  which  was  coal-black,  now 
almost  covered  his  face,  and  his  eye  had  acquired 
an  uncommon  lustre,  a  piercing  and  almost  start- 
ling fierceness  of  expression,  as  it  flashed  through 
his  raven  locks.  His  prophet,  Matthias,  was  ^v'ith  him 
at  the  time,  with  a  yet  much  longer  beard,  and 
dressed  in  his  pontifical  robes,  as  heretofore  des- 
cribed. There  was  likewise  another  gentleman  pre- 
sent, on  a  visit  of  curiosity  to  the  extraordinary  pair. 
After  a  pause  of  a  i^ew  moments,  the  prophet 
broke  silence  by  speaking,  as  though  in  continua- 
tion of  a  discourse.  He  spoke  without  method, 
— raved  against  all  denominations  of  Christians, — 
declaring  that  the  kingdom  he  was  preaching,  and 
which  had  now  commenced,  would  continue  and  in- 
crease, until,  like  Aaron's  rod,  it  should  have  swal- 
lowed up  all  other  sects  and  kindreds.  He  pro- 
ceeded in  an  attempt  to  explain  his  system,  which 
was  crude  and  unintelligible.  He  maintained  not 
only  that  the  earth  was  to  be  renovated,  but  that  the 
spirits  of  the  Apostles  and  patriarchs  were  to  reani- 
mate other  bodies.  At  present,  he  and  John  the 
Baptist  (Pierson),  were  obliged  to  fill  a  variety  of 
offices  ;  but  in  a  short  time  men  would  arise  to  oc- 
cupy the  different  posts,  so  that  there  should  again 
be  twelve  apostles,  and  twelve  patriarchs,  and  other 
functionaries  answering  to  the  early  ages  of  the 
M 


134  MATTHIAS    AND 

church.  This  era  was  to  be  the  first  resurrection. 
He  commented  with  satisfaction  upon  the  rail-roads 
projected  and  in  progress,  as  preparing  the  way  of 
the  Lord,  regretting,  however,  that  they  were  not 
more  continuous  and  regular  in  their  courses.  At 
that  time  the  sea  was  to  be  converted  into  dry  land  ; 
people  were  not  to  dwell  in  cities,  but  would  live,  as 
it  were,  in  palaces  scattered  over  the  land,  riding  in 
elegant  carriages,  and  diessing  and  living  in  wealth 
and  splendour.  He  denounced  baptism  by  sprink- 
ling, declaring  moreover  that  immersion  was  no 
baptism,  as  the  rite  was  practised,  because  people 
were  baptized  with  their  clothes  on. 

Among  other  of  his  vagaries,  he  declared  that  he 
had  received  in  a  vision  the  plan  of  architecture  for 
the  New  Jerusalem,  which  he  was  commissioned  to 
build,  and  which,  for  the  magnificence  and  beauty 
of  its  structure — for  its  extent  and  grandeur — would 
excel  all  that  was  known  of  the  Greeks  and  Ro- 
mans. The  site  of  this  great  capital  of  the  kingdom, 
was  to  be  in  the  western  part  of  New-York.  The 
bed  of  the  ocean  was  to  yield  up  its  long-concealed 
treasures  for  his  use.  All  the  vessels,  tools,  and 
implements  of  this  New  Jerusalem,  were  to  be  of 
massive  silver  and  pure  gold.  In  the  midst  of  the 
city  was  to  stand  an  immense  temple,  in  comparison 
with  which  that  of  Solomon  could  not  be  named ; 
and  this  principal  temple  was  to  be  surrounded  by 
several  smaller  ones.  In  the  greater  temple  he 
himself  was  to  be  enthroned.  Pierson  and  M.  H. 
S-  were  to  occupy  each  a  lesser  throne,  on  his  right 
hand  and  on  his  left.     Before  him  was  to  stand  an 


ins   IMPOSTURES.  135 

altar  on  which  was  to  be  placed  a  massive  candle- 
stick, with  seven  branches — all  of  pure  gold.  Can- 
dlesticks of  iron  were  to  stand  on  the  altar  before 
his  two  lesser  divinities,  already  mentioned.  He 
continued  his  rhapsody  for  about  ten  minutes  longer, 
with  great  violence  of  speech  and  gesture,  frequently 
raising  his  shrill  and  harsh  voice  to  the  top  of  his 
lungs. 

Having  concluded  his  harangue,  the  clergyman 
then  requested  of  Mr.  Pierson  liberty  to  speak — to 
which  the  prophet  instantly  objected,  adding,  that 
they  wanted  no  teachers  there,  and  that  all  who 
came  must  be  content  to  learn.  Mr.  Pierson  was 
then  again  asked — "  Is  this  not  your  own  house  1 
May  I  not  be  permitted  to  speak?" 

With  some  reluctance,  and  looking  with  fear  and 
trembling  at  his  master,  Mr.  Pierson  then  consented, 
and  the  gentleman  proceeded  aflfectionately  to  ad- 
monish him  against  consorting  with  such  a  man, 
of  whom  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  he  was  a 
gross  impostor.  He  therefore  warned  his  old  friend 
to  abandon  him  at  once,  and  repent  of  the  errors 
into  which  he  had  fallen. 

Mr.  Pierson,  who,  with  his  spiritual  instructor, 
was  sitting  upon  the  sofa,  here  interposed  by  saying 
that  he  could  not  allow  such  language  to  be  uttered  in 
his  house  against  so  holy  a  man.  The  prophet,  how- 
ever, was  not  satisfied  with  the  gentle  rebuke  of  John 
the  Baptist ;  but  springing  upon  his  feet  in  a  passion, 
he  raised  his  arms  perpendicularly,  and  rushed  furi- 
ously towards  the  gentleman — shrieking  wildly  at 
the  highest  pitch  of  his  voice,     He  raved  incoh^- 


136  MATTHIAS    AND 

rently,  and  with  such  loudness  and  half-suffocated 
rage,  as  to  prevent  his  words  from  being  understood 
— further  than  that  he  continued  to  protest  against 
allowing  any  person  to  come  there  to  teach  him. 
So  violent  was  his  manner  as  to  intimidate  poor 
Pierson,  who  trembled  like  an  aspen-leaf. 

Being  now  convinced  that  no  good  was  to  be  ac- 
complished by  remaining  longer,  the  gentleman  de- 
parted from  the  truly  melancholy  scene — extending 
his  hand  to  Mr.  Pierson  on  leaving,  from  which, 
however,  the  deluded  man  shrunk  back,  as  though 
every  finger  had  been  pointed  with  the  sting  of  a 
scorpion. 

The  idea  of  this  New  Jerusalem,  which  was  to 
adorn  western  New-York  with  its  gorgeous  palaces 
and  solemn  temples,  was  a  freqiient  subject  of  the 
prophet's  discourses,  and  was  fully  believed  in  by 
his  disciples.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  furniture 
was  to  correspond  with  its  external  grandeur.  For 
the  purpose,  therefore,  of  making  some  preliminary 
preparations,  while  yet  residing  with  Mr.  M.  H.  S., 
in  the  summer  of  1832,  Matthews,  in  company  with 
this  gentleman,  called  at  the  large  and  amply  finished 
fancy  store  of  Mr.  Gardiner,  in  Broadway,  to  ex- 
amine the  fashion  and  style  of  his  silver-wares. 
After  taking  a  general  survey  of  the  articles  for 
which  they  had  inqiiired — of  massive  silver,  richly 
embossed,  and  many  of  them  with  exquisite  skill — 
they  remarked  that  the  plate  would  not  answer  their 
purpose  at  all.  On  being  interrogated  in  what  re- 
spect the  articles — which  were  of  the  most  fashion- 
able patterns — were  defective,  they  replied  that  "  it 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  '  137 

was  now  the  reign  of  the  Lion  !"  and  that  every 
piece  must  be  surmounted  with  that  noble  animal. 
They  also  advised  Mr.  Gardiner  to  dispose  of  his 
stock  in  trade  as  soon  as  possible,  and  commence 
the  manufacture  of  articles  of  the  pattern  they  had 
described,  as  none  other  would  in  a  short  time  be  in 
demand.  It  was  then  asked  whether  it  was  the 
British  lion  they  wanted  ?  To  which  Matthews 
answered,  No  ;  for  the  British  lion  was  a  devil  ;  but 
he  meant  " //le  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah."  He 
then  proceeded  to  say  that  he  was  authorized  to 
contract  for  the  building  of  a  magnificent  temple, 
which  was  soon  to  be  commenced,  and  of  which  all 
the  utensils  were  to  be  of  gold  and  silver.  This 
temple  was  to  exceed  in  splendour  all  that  could  be 
pictured  forth  to  the  imagination  ;  and  with  a  view 
to  furnishing  the  vessels  and  utensils  of  silver  and 
gold,  it  would  be  wise  for  Mr.  Gardiner  to  engage 
all  the  best  artificers  in  the  world,  for  that  all  would 
be  wanted. 

In  the  course  of  a  week  or  ten  days  afterward, 
Mr.  M.  H.  S.  called  alone,  and  after  the  ordinary 
exchange  of  salutations,  observed — "  Mr.  Gardiner, 
the  Kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand,  are  you  not  glad  of 
it  ?"  Mr.  Gardiner  having  signified  his  assent  to 
this  proposition,  the  gentleman  proceeded  to  make 
inquiries  respecting  the  silver- ware,  desiring  also  to 
consult  him  as  to  certain  alterations  and  engravings, 
which  he  wished  to  have  executed  upon  his  own 
family  plate.  He  [)roduced  several  pieces,  on  which 
he  wished  various  inscriptions  to  be  made — one  of 
which  was — "  The  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand  ;" 
m2 


138  MATTHIAS    AND 

but  the  others  are  not  recollected.  Remonstrances 
that  such  inscriptions  would  only  disfigure  his  silver 
were  made  to  no  purpose.  On  the  day  following 
he  called  again,  accompanied  by  a  servant,  laden 
with  a  basket  of  silver-ware,  containing  various  ar- 
ticles, among  which  was  a  tea-set.  His  directions 
were,  that  a  silver  lion  be  placed  upon  the  top  of  the 
tea-pot,  the  sugar-bowl,  &c.,  and  also,  that  the 
spout  of  the  former  should  be  ornamented  with 
a  lion's  head,  from  the  mouth  of  which  the  tea  should 
be  poured.  The  alterations  and  engravings  having 
been  made  as  directed,  he  then  ordered  a  silver 
chalice,  with  two  inscriptions,  one  of  which  was, 
that  it  was  presented  to  the  prophet  Matthias  by 
himself  and  children. 

He  frequently  called  at  the  store  afterward, 
sometimes  in  company  with  Matthias,  and  at  others 
without  him.  At  length  he  gave  an  order  for  a 
porcelain  dinner  service,  to  have  the  device  of  the 
lion,  and  the  inscriptions  already  upon  his  plate  ;  but 
the  order  was  on  so  large  a  scale  that  the  merchant 
was  unwilling  to  execute  it.  Suspecting,  moreover, 
by  this  time,  what  was  the  state  of  the  gentleman's 
mind,  he  consulted  with  some  of  his  friends,  and 
determined  not  to  execute  the  order,  but  at  the  same 
time  to  humour  him  as  far  as  he  could,  when  he 
called,  as  he  frequently  did,  to  make  inquiries  for 
the  articles.  At  a  subsequent  visit  Matthias  com- 
menced one  of  his  flighty  and  boisterous  orations — 
boasting  of  his  supernatural  endowments,  and  talk- 
ing largely  of  his  power  to  save  or  destroy.  One 
of  his  conceits  was,  that  he  could  destroy  all  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  139 

flies  in  the  world  as  easily  as  "  that" — rapping  his 
fingers  upon  a  box  by  which  he  was  standing. 
This  insect  was  particularly  offensive  to  him  ;  and 
one  of  the  comforts  of  "  his  kingdom"  was  to  con- 
sist in  the  cleanliness  of  the  houses,  which  were  to 
be  kept  with  such  neatness  that  the  flies  would  be 
unable  to  live  in  them. 

Matters  having  proceeded  thus  with  Mr.  M.  H.  S. 
for  about  three  months,  some  of  his  friends,  finding 
that  both  Matthews  and  himself  required  to  be  taken 
care  of,  procured  a  warrant,  setting  forth  that,  "  by 
reason  of  lunacy,  or  otherwise,  they  were  so  far  disor- 
dered in  their  senses  as  to  endanger  their  persons,  or 
the  persons  and  property  of  others,  if  permitted  to  go 
at  large."  On  this  warrant,  the  gentleman  referred 
to  was  sent  to  the  Bloomingdale  lunatic  asylum, 
and  Matthews  to  the  apartment  of  the  insane  poor 
at  Bellevue.  It  having  been  suggested  to  the 
brother  of  one  of  his  disciples,  that  the  secret  of 
the  prophet's  power  over  his  infatuated  followers, 
like  the  strength  of  Samson,  lay  in  his  hair,  means 
were  found  to  set  the  Philistines  of  the  police  upon 
him,  and  he  was  shorn  of  his  favourite  beard — a 
bereavement  which  he  greatly  lamented.  A  brother 
of  the  impostor,  hearing  of  his  confinement,  procured 
a  writ  of  habeas  corpus^  upon  which  he  was  brought 
before  the  Recorder,  and  after  a  hearing  discharged. 
He  was  immediately  arrested,  however,  on  a  charge 
of  blasphemy,  but  was  admitted  to  bail,  having  en- 
countered no  difficulty  in  procuring  sureties.  No 
trial  upon  this  charge  took  place. 

While  a  resident  with  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  he  was  very 


140  MATTHIAS    AND 

boisterous  and  noisy  in  his  preaching — to  such  an 
extent  that  the  neighbours  complained,  and  measures 
were  projected  to  abate  the  nuisance.  It  is  not 
known  what  were  his  private  habits  at  this  time,  but 
suspicions  of  gross  hcentiousness  were  entertained, 
in  consequence  of  the  visits  of  females  to  his  apart- 
ments. With  some  of  these  he  became  angry,  and 
one  or  more  of  them  was  severely  whipped  by  him. 
It  is  not  supposed  that  the  gentleman  whose  hospi- 
taUty  he  was  at  once  enjoying  and  so  greatly  abusing, 
was  at  all  cognizant  of  any  such  proceedings,  or  of 
his  supposed  licentiousness.  After  the  arrest,  how- 
ever, papers  were  discovered  on  the  premises,  by 
which  it  was  ascertained  that  Matthews  had  been 
projecting  a  match  between  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  and  his 
daughter,  whom  he  had  left  at  Albany,  and  whose 
name  will  subsequently  appear  in  the  present  history 
as  Mrs.  Laisdell.  She  was  to  have  been  brought 
from  Albany  for  that  purpose. 

JVot  more  than  six  weeks  had  elapsed  after  the  re- 
moval of  this  gentleman  to  Bloomingdale,  before  he 
looked  upon  the  impostor  with  detestation. 

"  He  is  a  devil,"  he  exclaimed  one  day  in  con- 
versation with  a  friend. 

"  How  do  you  know  him  to  be  such  ?"  was  the 
reply. 

"  Because  God  has  told  me  so." 

"  Because  God  has  told  you  so  !  How  do  you 
know  that  V 

"  How  do  I  know  ?  There  can  be  no  mistake 
upon  the  subject.  He  is  the  devil,  *  the  real  crittur' 
•—the  monster  himself.     God  tells  me  so.     Why, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  141 

God  talks  to  me  every  dav,  as  a  parent  does  to  a 
child." 

Upon  this  subject  of  direct  communication  with 
the  Spirit,  and  of  interviews  with  the  departed,  this 
gentleman  seemed  to  have  imbibed  the  same  delu- 
sion which  Mr.  Pierson  had  acquired  from  Mrs. 
*  *  *,  by  whose  agency,  or  through  whose  instru- 
mentality, all  the  evils  we  have  been  describing,  were 
beyond  all  question  superinduced.  Both  his  wife 
and  father  had  recently  deceased,  and  he  frequently 
related  the  interviews  he  was  in  the  habit  of  holding 
with  them.  His  father,  in  particular,  was  in  the 
habit  of  calling  in  upon  him  often,  in  a  sociable  man- 
ner, and  holding  long  and  agreeable  conversations 
with  him. 

He  was  much  pleased  with  his  residence  at  the 
Asylum — with  its  noble  edifice,  its  beautiful  grounds, 
and  the  glorious  landscape  in  the  midst  of  which  it 
is  so  delightfully  situated.  His  opinion  seemed  to 
be,  that  it  was  a  branch  of  the  New  Jerusalem  of 
his  day-dreams,  and  that  hereafter  gentlemen  were 
to  live  in  large  communities,  and  grand  establish- 
ments like  that.  As  to  the  present  inmates,  how- 
ever, he  did  not  believe  they  were  men,  but  rather 
that  they  were  devils.  These  vagaries  clearly  show, 
that  the  interposition  of  his  friends,  to  rescue  him 
from  the  toils  of  Pierson  and  Matthews,  had  not 
been  taken  too  soon. 

After  his  release  upon  the  habeas  coy-jms,  as  al- 
ready related,  Matthews  was  again  received  into  the 
house  of  Mr.  Pierson,  with  whom  he  enjoyed  a  hos- 
pitable home  until  October — at  which  time  his  be- 


142  MATTHIAS    AND 

nevolent  disciple  rented  and  furnished  a  house  for 
his  exclusive  use,  in  Clarkson-street,  where,  with 
the  noted  Isabella  for  his  housekeeper,  he  resided 
until  the  following  May  (1833). 

This  change  was  dictated,  as  Mr.  Pierson  sup- 
posed, by  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the  words  following, 
which  are  taken  from  his  diary  : — 


Oct.  3.  Mr.  Matthias  shall  go  from  you,  and  you  shall  go  on 
with  your  work,  and  be  prospered,  and  have  every  needed  gift 
and  wisdom. 


His  intercourse  with  Mr.  Pierson  was  kept  up  as 
usual  during  the  winter ;  but  in  regard  to  his  life 
and  conduct  at  what  was  emphatically  now  his  own 
home,  there  is  no  certain  information.  He  was 
much  in  the  streets  as  before,  and  frequently  preached 
from  his  own  door  to  the  people  occasionally  col- 
lecting for  amusement  around  it.  Whenever  he 
became  irritated  with  Isabella,  however,  in  regard 
to  household  or  other  matters,  he  would  remain  at 
home,  and  preach  to  her  the  whole  day. 

The  papers  of  Mr.  Pierson  during  this  period, 
furnish  but  little  information  in  respect  either  to  his 
temporal  or  spiritual  affairs.  The  general  state  of 
his  mind  remained  much  the  same,  however,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  following  extracts  : — 

Sunday,  2Ath  March,  1833.  After  breakfast,  the  Spirit  said,  goup 
stairs  and  pray  :  whatsoever  you  ask,  shall  be  granted. 

Prayed  for  a  clean  heart  and  a  right  spirit  to  be  renewed  in 
me ;  for  power  over  all  the  power  of  the  enemy :  to  tread  on 
serpents  and  scorpions  :  to  be  filled  with  godlike  wisdom — for 
all  the  gifts  and  graces  of  body  and  mind  Jesus  had  for  the  per- 
formance of  his  ministry ;  gift  of  ;jroijhecy  (preaching)  :  that 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  143 

my  captivity  might  be  turned  like  that  of  Job  :  to  be  raised 
high  above  ail  my  enemies,  and  the  fear  of  man  :  that  the  people 
might  hear  me  as  preparing  the  way  of  the  Lord  as  John  the 
Baptist :  that  I  might  baptize  them  according  to  the  will  of 
God. 

April  Otk,  1833.  In  the  night  had  a  view  of  my  ew  body.  1 
appeared  taller  than  1  am  now,  very  ruddy  and  fair,  with  no 
beard  except  under  the  chin,  full  of  animation  and  sprightliness. 
There  vvas  something  said  about  the  tall  young  man  spoken  of 
hy  Esdras. 

At  the  close  of  April,  the  prophet's  establishment 
was  broken  up,  and  he  took  lodgings  at  the  lower 
extremity  of  the  city,  in  the  hotel  corner  of  Market- 
field  and  West  streets.  The  cause  of  this  change 
in  his  domestic  arrangements  is  not  exactly  known. 
A  strong  inference  may  be  drawn,  however,  from 
the  following  entry  in  Mr.  Pierson's  diary  a  month 
before  : — 


Monday,  March  18,  1833.  While  meditating  concerning  supply- 
ing Mr.  M.  with  a  monthly  supply,  the  spirit  said,  "  give  him  no 
more,  he  has  disobeyed  me,  anfl  thou  shalt  give  him  no  more 
at  all.  This  word  is  sure  unto  thee,  saith  the  Lord  that  heareth 
thee. 

The  within  Injunction  was  made  in  the  most  unquaUfied 
terms,  and  repeated.  One  point  of  disobedience  appeared  to  be 
about  the  watch.  It  was  said,  thou  hast  obeyed  my  voice, 
therefore  I  will  bless  thee  above  men. 

There  must  be  no  change  of  this  determination.  The  Lord 
requires  it  so. 

An  additional  reason  for  supposing  that  a  misun- 
derstanding had  arisen  between  the  prophet  and  his 
disciple,  is  found  in  the  fact,  that  during  the  three 
or  four  months  of  his  boarding  at  the  before- men- 
tioned hotel,  he  was  evidently  but  ill-supphed  with 
money.     His  custom  was  to  pay  his  reckonings 


144  MATTHIAS    AND 

daily,  whenever  he  had  the  means  ;  but  there  were 
occasional  periods  of  three  or  four  days,  when  he 
was  entirely  destitute,  and  his  wardrobe  seemed  to 
be  less  amply  furnished  with  new  garments,  than 
during  the  preceding  summer. 

The  contiguity  of  his  present  quarters  to  the  Bat- 
tery enabled  him  to  indulge  himself  to  the  full  in 
walks  upon  that  beautiful  esplanade  ;  and  on  return- 
ing to  the  hotel,  he  was  certain  to  be  followed  by  a 
portion  of  the  crowd,  who,  from  motives  of  curiosity, 
or  to  annoy  him  with  questions,  or  irritate  him  by 
contradictions,  would  be  sure  to  remain  so  long  in 
the  bar-room  as  enabled  the  landlord  to  find  his  ac- 
count in  it.  As  to  the  general  deportment  of  Mat- 
thews during  this  period,  it  is  not  represented  as 
having  been  particularly  obnoxious  to  censure.  On 
his  first  introduction  to  the  hotel,  he  attempted  once 
or  twice  to  play  off  his  prophetical  airs,  and  display 
his  boisterous  oratory.  But  the  landlord  perfectly 
understood  him,  and  being  withal  a  man  of  energy, 
he  soon  took  the  conceit  out  of  him,  and  subse- 
quently had  no  trouble  with  him.  The  frequenters 
of  the  bar-room  would  occasionally  exasperate  him, 
and  in  return  he  would  pour  forth  a  torrent  of  curses 
upon  them ;  but  whenever  the  landlord  perceived 
that  he  was  likely  to  proceed  too  far,  he  would  step 
up  and  say  to  him,  "  Mr.  Matthias,  it  is  time  for 
you  to  go  to  bed."  The  intimation  was  sufficient, 
and  he  would  obey  it  from  that  source  with  the  do- 
cility of  a  child.  Justice  also  requires  it  to  be  said, 
that  so  far  as  is  known  or  believed,  his  moral  con- 
duct while  residing  at  the  Battery,  was  irreproach- 
able. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  145 

Whether  there  had  actually  been  a  quarrel  be- 
ttveen  the  prophet  and  his  disciple,  it  has  already 
been  said,  is  not  known.  But  if  it  were  so,  it  will 
shortly  appear  that  the  differences  between  them 
were  not  lasting.  Meantime,  in  conclusion  of  the 
present  chapter,  as  we  have  done  with  Mr.  Pierson's 
recorded  conversations  with  the  Deity,  it  is  proper 
to  state  the  explanation  which  he  gave  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  those  conversations  were  held.  He 
maintained  indeed  that  God  spoke  audibly  to  him ; 
but  on  being  asked,  how  it  happened,  that  if  God 
spoke  thus  to  him,  no  other  persons  could  hear  him  ? 
he  replied,  that  it  was  not  exactly  a  voice  which  he 
heard,  but  words  were  in  some  mysterious  manner 
communicated  to  him,  which  he  was  enabled  to  hear 
though  they  could  not  be  heard  by  others, 
N 


146  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

History  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  resumed— Commencement  of 
their  acquaintance  with  Matthias — Pierson's  instructions — 
Efforts  of  Matthias  to  bring  Mr.  Folger  into  his  power — 
Throws  himself  upon  the  family  of  Mr.  F.  at  Singsing  unin- 
vited—Mr. and  Mrs.  Folger's  narrative  of  the  circumstances — 
Dreams,  and  Visions,  and  Vagaries  of  the  Prophet,  in  which 
the  Reader  will  find  more  of  mgenuity  than  he  expects — His 
discourse  with  Adam — Claims  Divine  Attributes  and  the  Au- 
thorship of  the  Bible — Strange  notions  about  the  transmigra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  Truth — Vision  of  the  Indian— IS  ew 
Theory  of  Sickness — Diet  and  general  manner  of  living  at 
Mount  Zion — Cruel  treatment  of  Mrs.  Folger  in  Sickness — 
Bathing — Refutation  of  Calumnies  upon  that  Subject — Dan- 
iel's Image  of  Gold,  and  Gen.  Jackson's  falling  from  the  Bridge 
at  Castle  Garden  an  Evil  omen  to  his  Successor — Gift  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  confen-ed  upon  Pierson— Explanations  of  the 
Prophet's  attire — The  Chariot  of  Israel — The  Prophet's  no- 
tions respecting  marriage — Re-marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fol- 
ger by  Mr.  Pierson — And  again  by  the  Prophet — Internal  de- 
scription of  the  household  of  Mount  Zion — Journey  to  Albany 
for  the  family  of  JNIatthias— Whipping  of  his  Daughter — Whips 
the  sick  Devil  out  of  Isabella— Discipline  of  his  own  Family 
— Mount  Zion  given  to  the  Prophet — Mr.  Folger's  Bank- 
ruptcy— A  Catastrophe  with  a  Coach — Mr.  Folger  doubts  the 
Prophet — Rupture — Seizes  him  by  the  Throat — Reconcilia- 
tion— Sickness  and  Death  of  Mr.  Pierson — Removal  to  New- 
York — The  Delusion  passes  away— Matthias  driven  away — 
End  of  the  Narrative. 

Thus  far  the  reader  will  have  perceived  that  Mr. 
Benjamin  H.  Folger  and  his  wife  had  had  no  con- 
nection or  acquaintance  with  the  pretended  Prophet, 
into  whose  toils  they  were  ultimately  doomed  to  fall. 
They  had  indeed  early  been  the  victims  of  the  lady 
(Mrs.  *  *  *),  with  whom  commenced  the  infatua- 
tion that  in  the  end  was  productive  of  such  disastrous 
results — an  infatuation  engendered  in  fanaticism,  and 
running  into  an  almost  unheard  of  delusion ; — and 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  147 

hey  had,  moreover,  been  associated  with  that  lady 
and  Mr.  Pierson  in  most  of  their  memorable  pro- 
ceedings at  Bowery  Hill ;  but  they  had  hitherto  es- 
caped the  fellowship  of  the  impostor,  for  whose  ap- 
pearance the  way  had  been  so  admirably  prepared. 
But  the  glance  of  the  pretended  Shiloh  had  singled 
them  out  for  his  prey,  and  they  seem  to  have  had  no 
more  power  of  escape  than  the  charmed  bird  from 
the  glittering  folds  of  the  serpent. 

During  the  summer  of  1832,  Mr.  Pierson  had 
made  frequent  efforts  to  procure  the  attendance  of 
Mr.  Folger  upon  the  preaching  of  Matthias,  by  re- 
peated calls  at  his  place  of  business,  and  also  by 
letter.  But,  as  has  already  been  stated,  Mr.  Fol- 
ger's  affairs  required  his  attention  in  the  interior,  and 
he  did  not  return  with  his  family  to  the  city  until  the 
close  of  September.  The  only  knowledge  which  at 
that  time  he  possessed  of  Matthias,  had  been  derived 
from  Mr.  Pierson's  letters,  and  the  newspaper  ac- 
counts of  his  arrest  and  confinement,  as  detailed  in 
the  preceding  chapter.  Having  determined  to  form 
no  definite  opinion  respecting  him  until  after  their 
return  to  the  city,  nor  even  then  from  mere  hearsay 
and  rumour,  they  early  sought  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Pierson.  Of  that  interview,  and  its  consequences, 
and  the  history  of  their  subsequent  acquaintance 
with  the  impostor  himself,  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  wrought  upon  their  credulity,  and  subverted  for 
a  time  their  understandings,  they  will  be  allowed  to 
speak  for  themselves,  in  the  following  narrative,  which 
they  have  prepared  at  the  solicitation  of  the  writer. 
The  insertion  of  this  narrative,  nearly  entire,  is  due 


148  MATTHIAS    AND 

to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  in  justice  ;  and  it  is  sub- 
mitted with  the  assurance  that  the  writer  has  reason 
to  repose  entire  confidence  in  the  veracity  of  this 
extraordinary  narration.  The  writer  thinks,  more- 
over, that  it  is  not  only  an  act  of  justice  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Folger  to  give  their  statement,  but  that  the 
reader  will  consider  it  very  far  from  being  the  least 
interesting  and  extraordinary  portion  of  this  extra- 
ordinary history.  The  occurrences  at  Singsing  (or 
Mount  Zion,  as  the  place  was  called),  with  the  ex- 
ception of  that  part  which  had^  or  was  supposed  to 
have,  a  direct  and  immediate  reference  to  the  death 
of  Mr.  Pierson,  have  never  been  made  known  to 
the  public  ;  and  saving  Mrs.  Folger  and  the  impos- 
tor himself,  there  is  none  living  by  whom  they  can 
be  told.  Various  stories  have  indeed  been  circu- 
lated, but  in  these  there  is  great  exaggeration  and 
much  absolute  falsehood ;  we  repeat  that  we  have 
implicit  confidence  in  the  relation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger.  The  mystery  that  has  hitherto  brooded  on 
these  transactions  exists  no  longer. 

"  At  the  close  of  September  we  went  to  town,  de- 
termined upon  an  interview  with  Mr.  Pierson.  We 
called  upon  him — found  him  with  a  beard  about  an 

inch  long — and  learned  from  him  that  Mr.  M 

was  in  the  Lunatic  Asylum,  and  that  Mr.  Matthias 
had  been  thrown  into  prison,  but  was  again  an  in- 
mate of  his  house.  We  inquired  of  Mr.  Pierson 
respecting  the  newspaper  statements,  and  he  replied 
that  they  were  very  incorrect.  He  censured  us 
much  for  being  out  of  the  way,  and  said  that  we  had 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  149 

met  with  a  loss  which  we  might  not  be  able  to  re- 
gain. Mr.  Pierson  then  told  us  that  he  had  found 
a  man  in  the  person  of  Matthias  much  farther  ad- 
vanced in  the  truth  than  himself.  We  told  Mr. 
Pierson  it  was  the  general  impression  abroad  that  he 
(Mr.  Pierson)  was  deranged.  He  answered  that 
he  was  aware  of  it,  and  regarded  it  as  his  protection 
from  confinement — but  that  he  had  the  truth,  and 
Matthias  was  much  in  advance  of  him  in  the 
knowledge  of  truth — that  Matthias  was  to  be  his 
teacher,  and  he  ours,  and  we  must  acknowledge 
him  as  such. 

"  We  had  a  long  interview  with  Mr.  Pierson,  in 
the  course  of  which  he  forbade  us  going  any  more 
to  church  or  to  prayer-meetings,  as  all  these  were 
to  be  broken  up ;  and  we  were  farther  ordered  to 
dismiss  our  Sabbath-school.  It  is  proper  to  men- 
tion here,  that  we  had  obtained  the  use  of  a  school- 
house,  near  our  residence  in  the  country,  which  Mr. 
Folger  occupied  for  the  male  school,  and  which  was 
filled  to  overflowing — we  had  several  good  teachers 
and  assistants  from  the  immediate  neighbourhood. 
The  female  school  was  held  in  our  house,  under  the 
care  of  Mrs.  Folger,  assisted  by  several  ladies  from 
the  vicinity.  Mrs.  Folger  was  instructed  to  listen 
to  no  teacher  but  her  husband,  and  in  no  case  to 
preach  or  teach  herself,  as  all  female  preaching 
was  now  to  be  considered  unlawful.  Mr.  Folger 
was  told  to  teach  his  own  household. 

"  We  were  told  to  discontinue  communing  with 
the  church,  as  we  must  not  taste  wine  until  we  drank 
it  anew  with  Jesus  in  the  Kingdom,  and  that  the 
N2 


150  MATTHIAS    AND 

new  wine  was  to  be  found  in  the  cluster ;  and  he 
(Mr.  Pierson)  referred  us  to  many  passages  of 
Scripture,  and  told  us  to  go  home  and  search  if  these 
things  were  not  so.  "VVe  did  search — had  difficulty 
in  reconciling  many  points— reported  them  to  Mr. 
Pierson,  and  he  would  from  time  to  time  explain 
and  make  it  all  clear.  We  soon  had  difficulty  with 
the  church — stated  that  we  wished  to  retire — the 
church  called  us  before  them,  and  after  much 
painful  debate,  we  withdrew  entirely  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1833. 

"We  had  many  interviews  with  Mr.  Pierson, 
both  at  his,  and  our  own  residence,  between  October, 
1832,  and  July,  1833,  and  by  this  time  had  become 
converts  to  the  doctrines  of  Matthias,  as  taught  by 
Mr.  Pierson,  so  far  as  we  could  understand  them. 
But  in  all  eur  interviews  we  were  told  there  was 
much  more  to  learn  which  was  valuable ;  but  that 
minds  so  established  in  the  errors  of  Christianity 
could  not  be  easily  overcome,  and  should  be  dealt 
with  accordingly." 

Such  were  the  instructions  they  received  from 
Mr.  Pierson,  and  such  the  first  fruits  in  this  com- 
mencement of  their  pupilage  under  the  first  and 
greatest  disciple  of  the  prophet.  But  during  this 
period,  the  prophet  himself  was  not  idle,  as  we  learn 
from  a  deposition  of  Mr.  Folger,  afterward  made  as 
the  basis  of  judicial  proceedings.  In  that  deposition, 
Mr.  Folger,  the  deponent,  stated,  that  he  first  be- 
came acquainted  with  Matthews  at  Pierson's  house, 
at  the  period  above  mentioned ;  that  Mr.  Pierson, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  151 

at  the  time  of  the  deponent's  introduction  to  Mat- 
thias, professed,  and  appeared  to  beheve  sincerely, 
that  the  representations  of  Matthias  as  to  himself 
and  his  divine  character  were  true,  and  so  repre- 
sented them  to  deponent ;  who,  from  his  confidence 
in  Pierson,  was  prepared  to  place  confidence  in  the 
assertions  of  Matthews.  That  these  assertions 
were  to  the  effect  that  he,  Matthews,  was  the  Spirit 
of  Truth,  which  had  disappeared  from  the  earth  at 
the  death  of  Matthias  mentioned  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, but  had  returned  in  him  ;  that  he  was  that 
same  Matthias,  risen  from  the  dead,  and  animated 
by  the  Spirit  of  God.  That  Matthias,  the  apostle 
of  the  New  Testament,  was  animated  by  the  Spirit 
of  Jesus  Christ ;  but  that  he,  Matthews,  in  this 
his  second  coming,  was  animated  by  the  Spirit  of 
God  the  Father.  That  he  was  himself  God  the 
Father,  and  had  power  to  do  all  things  ;  to  forgive 
sins,  and  to  communicate  the  Holy  Ghost  to  such 
as  believed  in  him.  That  Matthews  called  upon 
him,  the  deponent,  from  time  to  time,  at  his  place 
of  business,  and  that  in  their  interviews  there,  and 
in  other  places,  Matthews  always  made  the  same 
assertions  respecting  his  own  character  and  person  : 
that  on  one  occasion,  to  illustrate  his  supernatural 
or  divine  power,  IMatthews  placed  a  sheet  of  paper 
in  a  drawer,  which  he  then  closed  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  leave  a  portion  of  the  sheet  exposed,  and  said 
to  deponent,  "  You  see  but  one  end  of  this  sheet  of 
paper,  which  is  outside  of  the  drawer,  but  /  see  the 
whole  of  it — I  see  the  end — and  thus  I  see  the  end 
^f  all  things."     That  he,  the  deponent,  became  fully 


152  MATTHIAS    AND 

convinced  of  the  truth  of  Matthews's  assertions,  and 
looked  up  to  him  with  reverence  as  the  impersona- 
tion of  the  Almighty,  and  this  belief  was  also  shared 
by  deponent's  wife  ;  and,  as  a  consequence,  they 
also  believed  that  it  was  their  duty  to  supply  all  his 
wants,  and  obey  all  his  injunctions.  That  Mat- 
thews represented  himself  to  be  poor,  in  want  of 
money,  and  persecuted  by  the  world,  which  was 
under  the  influence  of  the  devil ;  that  he  had  com- 
menced the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth,  into  which 
Mills  and  Pierson  had  been  called,  but  the  perma- 
nent establishment  of  which  was  defeated  and  pre- 
vented for  a  time  by  the  devil,  whom  he  was  now 
about  to  overcome ;  for  which  purpose  it  was  the 
duty  of  deponent  to  contribute  a  portion  of  his  sub- 
stance, under  penalty  of  being  visited  with  the  dis- 
pleasure of  the  Almighty.  Obedience  in  all  things, 
he  said,  would  be  rewarded  with  forgiveness  of  sins 
and  eternal  happiness.  That  he,  deponent,  believ- 
ing these  representations,  furnished  Matthews  with 
such  moneys  as  he  required  from  time  to  time,  in 
different  amounts.  Such  was  the  substance  of  the 
deposition  referred  to,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  earlier 
part  of  their  acquaintance  with  the  prophet.  The 
narrative  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  is  now  resumed: — 

*'  About  the  20th  of  August,  1833,  on  our  return 
(Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger)  from  a  short  visit  to  New- 
York,  we  found  Matthias  at  our  residence.  He  had 
been  there  two  days.  He  was  an  unexpected 
visiter,  but  we  soon  heard  from  his  own  lips  an  ac- 
count of  his  sufferings  for  the  cause  of  truth,  as  he 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  153 

termed  it ;  and  our  minds  having  been  prepared  by 
Mr.  Pierson's  instructions,  with  the  otl  repeated 
caution  not  to  reject  him  when  he  did  come,  but  to 
receive  him  in  the  character  he  announced  himself — 
that  it  was  as  dangerous  to  reject  truth  as  to  receive 
error — referring  us  to  the  words  contained  in 
Exodus,  twenty-third  chapter,  commencing  with  the 
twentieth  verse,  and  including  the  twenty-second — 
the  way,  we  repeat,  being  thus  prepared,  we  invited 
him  to  stay  over  the  Sabbath,  expecting  him  to  leave 
us  on  Monday  afternoon  following. 


"He  said,  that  at  his  birth  there  was  a  light, 
above  the  brightness  of  the  sun.  In  the  course  of 
his  narrative,  he  stated  his  remarkable  exercises  and 
visions,  only  a  part  of  which  will  be  given,  to  show 
that  there  was  a  foundation  and  system  in  his  reli- 
gion, as  it  was  presented  to  us,  and  more  of  plausi- 
bility than  we  are  willing  to  have  published,  however 
much  we  are,  or  may  be,  censured  and  ridiculed  for 
weakness.  We  entertain  now  the  same  respect  for 
the  cause  of  religion  that  we  did  previous  to  our  ac- 
quaintance with  Mrs.  *  *  *,  Mr.  Pierson,  or  the 
impostor  Matthias.  Every  thing  we  have  done, 
notwithstanding  the  loathsome  scandal  heaped  upon 
U3  by  the  unprincipled,  has  been  done  under  full 
conviction  that  we  were  doing  right,  and  it  is  not 
probable  that  our  destruction  will  be  entirely  accom- 
plished, notwithstanding  the  efforts  to  that  end. 

"  Matthias  told  us  of  the  miracles  he  had  wrought, 
and  of  the  acknowledgments  of  his  power  from  time 


154  MATTHIAS    AND 

to  lime — that  he  attained  this  power  by  his  obe- 
dience to  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  in  which  he  ventured 
far,  regardless  of  the  persecution  that  followed  him, 
and  by  this  means  he  obtained  the  power  of  discern- 
ing the  Spirits,  of  which  there  were  many. 

"  After  much  preaching  against  all  intemperance, 
in  obedience  to  the  true  Spirit,  he  saw  in  a  vision  a 
vast  extent  of  surface,  covered  with  something  re- 
sembling smoke  or  steam.  He  blew  it  away — was 
commended  by  the  Spirit,  and  was  shown  a  great 
red  sea,  which  was  called  the  sea  of  intemperance — 
a  vice  which  he  had  gone  farther  to  subdue  than  any 
other  person — but  that  it  had  since  become  a  popular 
cause.  He  was  then  shown  the  veil  of  the  temple, 
as  it  was  rent  by  Jesus,  and  he  had  the  courage, 
which  was  very  pleasing  to  the  Spirit,  to  look  in — 
and  he  saw  many  things  which  we  could  not  bear  to 
know  yet. 

"  In  recounting  his  sufferings,  he  mentioned  hav- 
ing been  thrown  into  several  prisons,  and  had 
suffered  it  to  be  so  for  wise  purposes.  Once,  in 
obedience  to  the  Spirit,  he  went  into  a  church  in  Ar- 
gyle,  and  told  the  minister  before  his  people,  that  he 
was  preaching  falsehood,  and  wherein  ;  and  that  he 
had  come  to  take  away  his  commission.  He  was 
seized  and  thrown  into  prison,  but  the  Spirit  was  with 
him,  to  teach  and  fit  him  for  the  work  he  had  yet  to 
accomplish.  In  that  prison  the  spirit  of  man  yielded 
to,  and  delivered  him  a  cloven  tongue,  with  the 
power  to  bless  with  the  one,  and  to  curse  with  the 
other ;  that  since  then  the  male  spirit  had  not  made 
any  resistance,  but  the  female  spirit  had  never  been 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  155 

subdued — that  he  had  discovered  in  those  who  felt 
or  expressed  opposition  to  him,  -whether  in  the  per- 
son of  a  male  or  female,  that  they  were  actuated  by 
a  female  spirit. 

"  One  night,  during  his  stay  at  Mr. 's  house, 

just  after  he  had  retired  to  bed,  Adam  appeared  to 
him  in  person  ;*  and  in  a  vision,  all  the  witnesses 
of  truth,  from  Adam  to  the  then  present  time,  ap- 
peared, to  yield  up  their  spirits  to  him,  with  all  the 
knowledge  they  possessed,  and  acknowledged  him 
as  the  resurrection,  or  a  repository  for  their  spirits, 
until  he  (Matthias),  their  aid,  should  prepare  others 
to  receive  them.  Adam  said  to  JMatthias — '  You 
are  the  man  I  have  been  looking  for.'  He  then  gave 
him  something  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  Bible, 
say  eight  inches  in  length,  and  three  inches  thick, 
full  of  seals  ;  on  one  edge  of  which  was  a  serpent ; 
— this,  Adam  said,  was  the  soul  of  man.  With  it 
he  gave  Matthias  a  sword,  and  told  him  that  even 
then  he  would  reject  him  if  he  did  not  destroy  the 
serpent ; — that  he  then  cut  it  off  with  the  sword,  and 
declared,  as  Adam  instructed  him,  '  that  women 
should  not  rule  their  husbands  in  the  kingdom  he 
was  about  to  set  up.'  Adam  then  told  Matthias 
that  since  he  had  undertaken  this  work,  he  must 
suffer  for  his  (Adam's)  redemption  ;  that  the  suffer- 
ings of  Jesus  had  not  reached  his  case;  for  that 
Jesus — the  Son — could  not  redeem  any  over  thirty- 
three  years  of  age  ;  that  he  (Matthias)  then  went 

*  Of  this  vision,  Matthias  had  given  Pierson  an  account  the 
year  before,  as  we  discover  by  an  entry  in  his  diary — "  May  25, 
1832 :  R.  Matthias  had  his  exercises  concerning  Adam." — Author. 


156  MATTHIAS    AND 

into  a  state  of  extreme  suffering,  and,  as  he  judged,- 
underwent  the  pains  of  hell,  which  lasted  all  night. 
When  he  came  out  of  this  state  of  suffering,  Adam 
expressed  himself  highly  satisfied,  and  vanished. 

"  Matthias  then  described  himself  as  God,  but  in 
a  manner  which  we  could  more  easily  convey  ver- 
bally than  in  a  written  communication.  He  was  a 
spirit  when  the  world  was  a  chaos.  When  he 
formed  the  dry  land  and  the  water,  he  diffused  him- 
self in  the  earth  and  water  as  spirit,  and  caused 
grass,  plants,  shrubs,  and  trees  to  spring  up.  He 
was  in  all  these.  He  went  on  improving  in  all  his 
work, — filling  the  waters  with  living  things ;  and 
whatever  of  life,  spirit,  or  animation  there  was  in 
them  was  part  of  himself.  He  next  made  the  in- 
sect and  animal  world,  the  last  and  noblest  of  which 
was  the  horse,  and  infused  of  his  spirit  into  all. 

"  A  portion  of  the  substance  of  which  he  had 
formed  all  the  animal  world — even  to  the  serpent — 
was  retained  to  form  man ;  but  before  he  put  his 
governing  spirit  into  man,  he  took  from  him  a  bone, 
or  rib,  and  formed  woman.  Then  he  caused  his 
governing  spirit,  or  infused  himself  into  Adam,  so 
that  Adam  was  God,  and  being  pleased  with  all 
things  he  had  made,  and  standing  so  nearly  related 
to  them,  he  was  disposed  to  exercise  mercy  and 
deal  justly  with  all. 

"  He  accounted  for  Adam's  fall  by  stating  that 
his  governing  spirit  had  retired  to  another  part  of 
the  garden,  or  Eve  could  not  have  overcome  him. 
It  was  not  intended  that  the  female  should  have  any 
part  of  the  governing  spirit,  for   the  man   stood 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  157 

always  responsible  for  his  wife,  and  was  to  guard 
her  from  every  evil.  In  this  instance,  the  govern- 
ing spirit  came  in  an  audible  voice  and  inquired  of 
Adam  what  he  had  done. 

"  He  said  our  ideas  of  God  were  very  incorrect. 
He  had  brought  about  many  changes,  and  tried 
many  experiments  in  the  world,  and,  although  he 
was  the  source  from  which  all  wisdom  came,  yet  he 
was  increasing  in  wisdom  continually.  He  gave 
us  the  course  and  occupation  of  his  spirit  from  that 
time  until  Abraham's  day,  but  it  is  too  tedious  to 
relate,  and  we  are  desirous  of  getting  over  the 
whole  matter. 

"  The  Bible  was  not  laid  aside  by  us,  but  it  was 
regarded  as  the  word  of  God.  His  (Matthias's) 
spirit  wrote  the  original,  and  would  give  an  idea  of 
the  order  he  meant  to  establish  in  the  world.  His 
governing  spirit  was  in  Abraham,  and  Abraham  was 
then  God.  He  ruled  his  household,  educated  his 
son  himself,  and  was  to  be  found  in  his  tent-door, 
through  which  nothing  could  pass  without  his  in- 
spection to  disquiet  his  family.  He  likewise  stated 
the  time  and  manner  he,  or  the  spirit  he  had  re- 
ceived and  then  possessed,  had  originally  written 
the  Bible. 

"  He  was  well  acquainted  with  the  truths  of  the 
Scriptures, — the  copy  he  brought  with  him  as  his 
own  had  evidently  been  much  used, — it  was  much 
marked  with  pencil,  had  an  old  appearance,  but  had 
been  well  taken  care  of.  He  expressed  violent  in- 
dignation that  his  words  should  be  printed  on  paper 
made  of  filthy  rags,  instead  of  being  written  on 
O 


168  MATTHIAS    AND 

parchment, — but  the  Gentiles  had  defiled  every 
thing.  They  (the  Gentiles)  had  not  only  omitted 
many  portions  of  the  word  entirely,  of  which  there 
is  no  mention  in  the  Scriptures,  but  they  had  like- 
wise omitted  many  books  and  portions  spoken — 
such  as  the  book  of  Jasher  and  Daniel's  vision, 
which  were  sealed  up  with  a  promise  that  he  should 
stand  in  his  lot  in  the  last  days,  and  unseal  them. 
Many  of  the  Apostles'  writings,  he  taught  us,  were 
missing.  He  undertook  to  give  the  contents  of  the 
little  book  that  John  ate,  spoken  of  in  Revelations, 
as  well  as  all  the  missing  parts  of  the  Bible.  He 
was  also  highly  offended  at  the  Gentiles  for  the  ad- 
dition to  the  Scriptures  of  the  words  that  were  in 
Italics. 

"  He  undertook  to  explain  many  passages  of 
Scripture  that  are  mysterious  :  we  instance  one.  It 
is  written,  '  No  man  shall  see  my  face  and  live.' 
His  explanation  was,  that  Adam  could  only  see  all 
that  was  to  be  seen  of  God  in  his  day  ;  whoever  re- 
ceived Adam's  spirit  at  his  death,  could  only  see  all 
that  was  to  be  seen  of  God  with  his  bodily  eyes  in 
his  day ;  so  that  it  could  not  be  that  any  man  could 
see  God's  face  and  live  until  death  was  destroyed. 

"  Every  husband  and  father  should  rule  his  own 
house.  He  taught  that  the  man  would  be  furnished 
with  a  governing  spirit,  and  the  power  of  endowing 
the  wife  with  just  enough  for  her  station,  and  the 
children  for  theirs.  Hence  the  necessity  of  with- 
drawing our  children  from  school,  as  whoever 
teaches  instils  spirit  into  them,  and,  should  they  die, 
all  the  spirit  they  receive  from  this  or  that  teacher. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  159 

in  the  way  of  instruction,  would  return  from  whence 
it  came.  This  was  termed  the  child's  soul.  It 
was  desirable  with  us,  therefore,  that  our  children 
should  partake  of  our  spirit;  and  should  they  die  be- 
fore the  enemy,  death,  was  destroyed,  their  spirits 
would  return  to  us,  or,  when  we  saw  fit,  which  was 
altogether  optional  with  us  (whether  we  lived  for 
ever  or  not),  their  bodies  would  be  receptacles  for 
our  spirits. 

"  He  continued  to  teach  us  the  course  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  from  Abraham  to  Isaac,  Jacob, 
Moses,  Joshua,  and  all  the  prophets  and  apostles. 
It  will  be  recollected  that  he  received  the  spirits  of 
all  the  witnesses  of  truth.  He  would  describe  the 
different  scenes  and  sufferings  they  passed  through, 
and  state  when  the  different  spirits  spoke  by  his 
mouth.  He  claimed  to  be  the  resurrection  of  all 
the  holy  characters  spoken  of  in  the  Scriptures,  pos- 
sessing the  right  to  rule  the  whole  world.  He  de- 
clared, in  God's  own  language,  '  I  am  God,  there 
is  none  else.'  He  ridiculed  the  idea  of  a  heaven 
above,  and  explained  much  of  the  Scripture  that  we 
had  not  regarded  as  very  important  to  us,  such  as 
the  tabernacle  in  the  wilderness,  for  which  particular 
directions  were  given  in  the  construction  and  fur- 
nishing, and  which  showed  that  God  designed  it  for 
a  dwelling-place  for  himself. 

"  The  temple  of  Solomon  was  only  a  miniature 
of  the  one  he  was  to  build  for  himself,  besides  the 
house  of  many  mansions  for  his  people  to  dwell  in. 
His  plan  for  building  these  was  the  most  complete 
and  magnificent  that  can  be  imagined.     We  can- 


160  MATTHIAS    and' 

not  do  justice  to  his  description,  but  we  should 
think  his  architectural  taste  must  be  good.  There 
would  be  no  want  of  means,  as  all  the  treasures  of 
the  earth  would  be  his  after  the  seven  years  had  ex- 
pired in  1837,  which  was  the  last  hour  of  God's 
judgment. 

"  He  explained  another  vision  he  had  had.  An 
Indian  brought  him  a  bundle  of  arrows,  with  some- 
thing written  upon  each,  such  as  '  Earthquakes,' 
*  Fires,'  '  Floods,'  '  Wars,'  '  Famine,'  &c.,  which 
was  an  acknowledgment  to  him  of  his  right  to  com- 
mission others  to  execute  these  judgments  when  and 
where  he  pleased.  He  would  sometimes  foretell 
these  calamities,  and  where  and  when  they  would  oc- 
cur, which  tended  to  strengthen  or  increase  our  faith. 
On  one  occasion,  he  took  a  bundle  of  small  cords, 
as  he  said  Jesus  had  done  when  he  overthrew  the 
money  changers,  and  it  being  in  the  time  of  the 
panic,  it  so  happened  that  many  merchants  of  long 
standing  failed  immediately  after,  and  he  thus  again 
seemed  to  have  something  plausible  in  his  preten- 
sions. He  hated  traffic,  and  merchandise  of  all 
kinds,  especially  the  sale  of  land,  for  the  earth  was 
our  mother,  and  it  was  written,  '  the  land  shall  not 
be  sold  for  ever.'  Lev.  xxv.  23. 

"  He  gave  us  his  plan  for  the  temple.  It  was  to 
be  a  great  storehouse  for  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
world  to  resort  to,  with  the  products  of  their  labour. 
The  farmer  would  till  the  earth  to  the  best  advantage, 
reserve  only  enough  for  his  own  support,  and  con- 
vey the  surplus  to  the  great  storehouse — receive  no 
pay,  but  get  other  things  which  he  might  need  for 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  161 

his  family.  The  various  mechanics,  and  indeed 
every  class  in  society,  were  to  employ  the  talents,  of 
which  there  would  be  a  more  equal  division — put 
the  surplus  of  their  labour  in  the  storehouse,  like 
the  farmer,  and  receive  what  he  needed  :  and  in 
this  way,  the  plan  fully  carried  out,  there  would  be 
no  oppression.  The  priests  would  be  what  he  ever 
intended  they  should  be — the  preachers  of  his  Gos- 
pel, which  consisted  in  doing,  and  not  in  talking  of 
doing.*  He  instanced  the  messengers  of  John  the 
Baptist  to  Jesus,  with  the  question,  '  Art  thou  he 
that  should  come,'  and  in  the  same  hour  Jesus 
cured  many  of  their  infirmities,  plagues,  and  evil 
spirits,  to  many  that  were  blind  he  gave  sight,  &c., 
and  sent  them  to  tell  John  what  things  they  had 
seen  and  heard — that  the  poor  had  the  gospel 
preached  to  them,  indeed,  and  blessed  were  those 
who  would  not  be  offended  in  him.  The  priests, 
therefore,  were  to  minister  in  the  temple — taking 
charge,  and  ordering  every  thing — the  Levites  to 
furnish  the  people  with  food,  clothing,  &c.,  of  which 
there  would  be  an  abundant  supply. 

"  The  seven  years,  before  spoken  of,  would  af- 

'  *  Upon  this  point,  Mrs.  Folger  has  related  one  of  Matthias's 
propositions  to  the  writer,  which  is  not  set  down  in  the  narra- 
tive. According  to  his  behef,  there  are  three  classes  of  profes- 
sional gentlemen,  whom  he  calls  black-coats  and  devils,  and 
who  are  engaged  in  a  conspiracy  against  the  lives  and  pioperty 
of  men.  These  are  the  priests,  the  doctors,  and  the  lawyers. 
The  business  of  the  first,  he  says,  is  to  persuade  men  into  a  wil- 
lingness to  die  ;  the  doctor  then  steps  in  to  help  them  out  of  the 
world ;  whereupon  the  lawyer  makes  his  appearance  to  take 
possession  of  the  estate.  There  is  shrewdness,  at  least,  in  the 
conception  ;  whether  or  no  the  shrewdness  of  insanity,  the  reader 
must  determine  for  himself. — Author. 
02 


162  MATTHIAS    AND 

ford  all  those  who  had  any  truth  an  opportunity  of 
recognising  him  in  his  official  character,  and  of  sur- 
rendering themselves  and  the  property  in  their  pos- 
session to  him  ;  but  at  this  time,  his  judgments 
would  all  be  poured  out,  and  his  agreement  with  the 
last  enemy,  death,  would  be  at  an  end.  He  had 
made  an  agreement  with  death,  or  in  other  words, 
the  devil,  that  he  should  be  the  God  of  this  world 
for  a  time  ;  but  that  time  had  nearly  expired  when 
he  (the  devil)  was  to  submit  to  his  destruction.  He 
had  not  given  him  full  power,  but  with  what  he  had 
given  him,  the  world  v/as  in  a  greater  chaos  than  at 
the  beginning  ;  hence  his  reply  to  Jesus,  as  he  was 
casting  out  devils,  '  Art  thou  come  to  torment  us 
before  the  time.'  • 

"  He  taught  that  all  sicknesses  were  detached 
spirits,  from  their  head — death — as  messengers  to 
destroy  these  bodies,  which  were  the  work  of  God. 
We  said  to  him  that  we  had  expected  these  bodies, 
and  those  of  our  kindred  who  had  gone  before,  to 
rise  again,  as  it  was  written  that  those  who  were  in 
their  graves  should  hear  his  voice,  and  those  who 
slept  in  the  dust  should  arise,  but  he  soon  dashed 
our  hopes  in  this  particular — our  bodies  were  made 
of  the  dust,  and  formed  graves  for  the  spirits  of  those 
who  had  departed  ;  for  it  would  be  found  that  many 
spirits  are  now  asleep  in  the  people,  which  will 
awake  at  his  bidding  to  recognise  him.  These 
spirits  had  hitherto  been  with  little  children,  but  they 
could  not  now  find  rest  there  ;  the  introduction  of 
Intant-schools  had  completed  the  desolation  spoken 
of  by  Daniel.  '       • 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  163 

"  In  the  Gentile  system,  a  man's  wife  was  de- 
coyed by  false  teachers  to  prayer  meetings  and 
church — his  older  children  scattered  in  different 
schools — and  now,  at  last,  to  complete  the  ruin,  the 
infant  was  committed  to  the  care  and  teaching  of 
strangers.  This  was  contrary  to  God's  plan.  God 
had  placed  us  on  the  earth  in  families,  and  his  spirit 
was  averse  to  any  other  plan.  'I  will  be  (he  God 
of  all  the  famihes  of  Israel,  and  they  shall  be  my 
people.'  Jer.  xxxi.  1. 

"  He  gave  other  proofs  upon  this  subject.  He 
had  never  designed  to  raise  those  bodies  that  had 
yielded  to  death,  for  he  had  enjoined  upon  all  to  re- 
sist the  devil  and  he  should  flee  from  them.  No : 
— such  were  to  be  ashes  under  the  soles  of  his  feet, 
as  found  in  the  last  of  Malachi. 

"  Malachi  was  a  favourite  book  with  Mr.  Pierson 
as  well  as  Matthias.  Mr.  Pierson's  given  name 
was  Elijah,  and  he  thought  himself  to  be  that  prophet 
Elijah,  spoken  of  in  Malachi,  who  was  to  be  sent 
before  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord — 
whose  office  it  will  be  to  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers 
to  the  children,  and  the  heart  of  the  children  to  the 
fathers,  lest  the  Lord  come  and  smite  the  earth  with 
a  curse. 

"  All  diseases  were  termed  devils  by  Matthias. 
A  blind  man  was  possessed  by  a  blind  devil — a 
lame  one  by  a  hmping  devil,  and  so  on  ;  those 
who  were  afflicted  with  deafness,  toothache,  head- 
ache, &c. — and  all  these  he  professed  to  have  the 
power  to  cast  out.  Our  family  was  remarkably  pre- 
served from  sickness  during  his  stay  with  us,  but  it 


164  MATTHIAS    AND 

was  no  doubt  owing  principally  to  the  healthy  at- 
mosphere in  which  we  had  lived  for  the  last  fifteen 
or  eighteen  months,  the  use  of  warm  and  cold  baths, 
and  a  strict  attention  to  diet,  under  the  instruction 
of  Doctor  P*^**,  one  of  the  first  physicians  of 
New-York  city.  And  even  after  Matthias  came  to 
reside  with  us,  we  continued  to  live  plainly  in  our 
family. 

"  He  would  not  allow  any  other  than  boiled  meats. 
We  were  forbidden  roast  meats.  Boiled  fowls,  fish, 
and  vegetables,  of  the  latter  of  which  we  were  to  have 
a  greater  variety  than  now  in  use.  Our  table  was 
almost  always  supplied  with  rice,  beans,  potatoes, 
and  onions,  prepared  in  various  ways.  He  did  not 
allow  pies  or  puddings,  and  but  a  few  plain  cakes. 
He  was  particularly  fond  of  fresh  fruits,  and  allowed 
us  to  eat  them  in  any  reasonable  quantities.  We 
were  not,  however,  entirely  exempted  from  sickness, 
but  the  least  complaint  drew  forth  his  censure  in  so 
violent  a  manner,  that  we  preferred  to  suffer  in  si- 
lence rather  than  expose  ourselves  to  the  visitation 
of  his  wrath. 

"  The  least  complaint  would  bring  forth,  in  the 
utmost  fury,  the  charge  that  we  were  bringing  the 
devil  into  the  house  of  God,  and  he  would  threaten 
with  many  curses,  such  as,  shutting  up  in  the  bot- 
tomless pit, — annihilation, — or,  if  we  would  thus 
encourage  the  devil,  we  should  be  subjects  of  dis- 
ease or  leprosy.  If  this  was  our  choice,  he  would 
let  loose  all  the  plagues  upon  us,  but  as  for  his 
house,  they  should  choose,  with  Joshua,  to  serve 
the  Lord.     After  hearing  one  of  these  bursts  of 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  165 

curses  and  threatenings,  we  sometimes  felt  that  our 
case  was  quite  hopeless.  Seeing  pur  state,  he 
would  say  he  could  deliver  us  if  we  would  ask  him  ; 
— we  did  ask  him,  and  he  would  bid  the  evil  spirit 
depart  with  a  very  loud  voice,  and  we  often  imagined 
it  did  depart,  when  we  felt  delivered  from  the  curses 
that  were  likely  to  be  inflicted. 

"  On  one  occasion  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Folger, 
in  the  winter  of  1834,  Mrs.  Folger  was  taken  sick, 
but  she  was  required  to  attend  to  her  household  du- 
ties as  though  she  was  well — she  was  not  allowed 
to  complain,  but  censured  with  savage  severity  be- 
cause she  looked  ill.  Her  fever  and  distress,  how- 
ever, increased  to  such  degree,  that  she  could  no 
longer  keep' about — and  then  he  indulged  in  threats 
of  torment,  &c.,  but  she  was  so  ill  as  to  be  indif- 
ferent to  them — in  the  excess  of  her  pain  she  put  a 
little  quilt  on  the  back  of  a  high  chair  to  lean  her 
head  against,  but  even  this  was  seized  by  Matthias, 
as  soon  as  observed,  and  taken  from  her.  She  was 
denied  any  food  whatsoever,  but  not  craving  it,  she 
supposes  that  abstinence  from  food,  a  supply  of 
coffee,  which  he  saw  fit  at  last  to  allow  her,  with  the 
bathing  of  her  feet  in  warm  water,  produced  the 
effect,  with  the  blessing  of  the  true  God,  to  break 
her  fever.  She  often  looked  to  Mr.  Pierson,  who 
saw  her  treatment,  and  he  told  her  to  be  strong — 
that  there  was  no  doubt  that  this  was  the  way-^and 
would  often  encourage  her  with  assurances  that  we 
were  right  and  had  the  truth. 

"  We  had  long  been  in  the  practice,  by  the  advice 
of  our  physician  before  named,  of  using  warm  and 


166  MATTHIAS    AND 

cold  baths,  and  we  continued  them  after  Matthias 
and  his  children,  and  the  servants  introduced  by 
him,  came  into  the  family.  It  no  doubt  was  bene- 
iicial  to  our  health,  and  we  believe  that  Matthias 
was  himself  satisfied  of  the  fact ;  for  when  our  use 
of  the  bath  became  known  to  him  he  enjoined  the 
practice  upon  all  the  family.  It  seemed  to  be 
something  entirely  new  to  the  strangers  who  had 
joined  us,  and  they  talked  much  about  it — but  there 
was  no  indecorous  washing,  as  has  been  rumoured. 
Mrs.  Folger  always  had  the  assistance  of  her 
mother,  or  of  a  nurse  who  had  been  with  us  several 
years ;  and  subsequently,  after  she  left,  of  one  or 
the  other  of  the  servants  introduced  into  the  family 
by  Matthias — one  of  them  was  Mrs.  Galloway,  and 
the  other  the  coloured  woman,  for  a  long  time  pre- 
vious, and  still  a  follower  of  him. 

"  Mrs.  Folger  always  readily  assisted  any  of  the 
females  in  turn,  when  it  was  necessary.  The  bath- 
house was  in  the  north  wing  of  the  building,  where 
the  nurse  and  children — and,  when  Mr.  Folger  was 
absent,  Mrs.  Folger — slept.  Matthias  was  quick 
to  observe  and  improve  upon  little  circumstances. 
Soon  after  his  visit  commenced  with  us,  the  house- 
keeper in  replenishing  the  pitcher  in  his  room,  carried 
up  more  water  than  the  pitcher  would  hold,  and 
poured  the  surplus  in  the  wash-bowl.  He  observed 
it — said  his  spirit  had  directed  it,  which  she  had 
done  well  to  obey  ;  and  from  that  time  he  made  it  a 
law  that  all  must  wash  his  or  her  hands  the  first 
thing  in  the  morning.  Many  instances  of  this  kind, 
where  he  borrowed  ideas  and  examples  from  others, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  167 

could  be  named,  and  we  would  sometimes  tell  him 
so;  but  he  would  argue  the  subject  quite  ingeniously 
— showing  that  the  action  was  by  his  spirit,  and  that 
we  were  indebted  to  him  for  the  loan  of  it.  Indeed, 
whatever  was  said  or  done  in  the  community,  that 
met  his  approval,  was  by  the  influence  of  his  spirit, 
sent  forth  by  him.  He  could,  as  he  said,  call  his 
spirit  out  of  any  individual  to  give  an  account  to 
him,  from  any  part  of  the  world,  in  a  moment.  This 
he  called  his  omnipresence. 

"  The  image  of  gold  spoken  of  in  Daniel,  he 
said,  represented  this  government,  and  that  Presi- 
dent Jackson  and  his  government  were  the  toes  of 
this  image — which  were  part  iron  and  part  clay — 
that  this  was  the  last  of  the  republican  governments. 
He  foretold  the  disturbances  and  the  result  of  the 
elections  in  1834,  and  that  this  should  be  but  a  be- 
ginning of  the  coming  down  of  the  churches,  or,  as 
he  termed  them,  of  the  synagogues  of  Satan.  He 
advanced  many  strange  ideas  upon  this  subject,  but 
enough,  it  is  thought,  has  been  said.  He  pronounced 
a  wo  upon  those  who  should  come  in  at  the  heels 
of  General  Jackson,  of  which  the  falling  in  of  the 
bridge  at  the  time  of  General  Jackson's  arrival  at 
New- York  was  a  type.  He  declared  this  govern- 
ment at  an  end — but  of  his,  Matthias's,  government 
there  would  be  no  end — for  he  was  the  Wonderful 
Counsellor,  the  Everlasting  Prince,  the  Mighty  God 
— and  where  should  the  government  be  but  upon 
his  shoulders. 

"  The  more  we  were  persecuted  (as  he  called  all 
interference),  or  spoken  against,  the  clearer  he  made 


168  MATTHIAS    AKD 

it  out  that  he  answered  to  the  character  spoken  of  in 
Isaiah,  who  treadeth  the  wine-press  alone,  and  of 
the  people  there  were  none  with  him.  His  red 
sash  and  claret  clothing  were  worn  as  emblematic 
of  his  being  the  character  referred  to  in  Isaiah. 
His  green  clothes  signified  that  the  Dove,  or  Holy 
Spirit,  had  found  a  resting-place,  for  he  had  seen 
the  day  when  he,  man,  had  not  where  to  lay  his 
head.  He  referred  to  a  time  just  before  he  came 
to  Singsing. 

"  He  conferred  upon  Mr.  Pierson,  what  he  called 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  September,  1833.* 
He  attributed  the  recovery  of  Mr.  Pierson,  from  a 
dangerous  attack  of  paralysis  about  that  time  to  his 
extraordinary  gift :  but  it  may  be  attributed  to  the 
skill  and  faithful  attention  of  Dr.  P  *  *  *  *  of  New 
York,  attended  with  God's  blessing. 

His  white  caps  exhibited  at  the  Police  court  in 
New  York,  and  subsequently  exhibited  in  William 
street  to  a  great  number,  were  made  by  his  instruc- 
tions, but  upon  no  particular  occasion.  He  called 
them  pale  Mitres.  Two  of  them  had  twelve  points, 
and  one,  twenty-fonr,  with  the  names  in  his  own 
writing,  of  the  twelve'Apostles,  one  in  each  point — 


*  There  seems  to  be  an  error  here  in  the  date,  or  perhaps  the 
ceremony  was  repeated.  The  following  entry  occurs  in  Mr. 
Pierson's  diary : — 

Monday,  August  \2th,  1833.  Mr.  Matthias  came  to  see  me  in 
the  afternoon.  After  considerable  conversation,  he  laid  his 
hands  upon  me,  and  breathing  upon  me,  said,  "  Receive  ye  the 
Holy  Ghost :  thou  art  confirmed  a  son  of  God.  In  obedience 
thou  art  blessed  :"  and  many  things  connected  with  this  were 
said. — ArUhor. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  169 

and  the  other  twelve  points,  with  the  names  of  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  His  three-cornered  hat  had 
upon  it  thirteen  points  of  gold  lace.  He  at  first 
censured  the  maker  very  much,  because  it  had 
thirteen,  but  after  inquiry  of  the  spirit,  it  was  all 
right.  It  had  a  green  fringe  on  the  three  upper 
edges,  with  a  yellow  edge,  which  was  worn  as  an 
emblem  of  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  having 
a  rainbow  round  about  his  head.  The  silk  linings 
of  his  coat  and  cloak  were  of  various  colours,  repre- 
senting Joseph's  coat.  His  rod  of  iron  was  to  rule 
the  nations  as  spoken  of  in  Revelation.  His  iron 
chain,  key,  and  two-edged  sword  were  also  emblems 
of  his  character  as  spoken  of  in  Revelation.  His 
plumb-line,  as  the  Lord  with  a  plumb-line  in  his 
hand,  as  spoken  of  in  Amos,  vii.  7,  8. 

"  His  carriage  he  called  the  chariot  of  Israel.  It 
seldom  went  abroad  except  when  he  was  in  it.  Oc- 
casionally he  took  with  him  different  members  of 
the  family — sometimes  his  children,  at  others  Mr. 
Pierson,  or  Mr.  Folger,  or  Mrs.  Folger  and  one  of 
her  children,  hut  in  no  one  instance  did  Mrs.  Folger 
ride  out  with  him  unaccompanied  by  some  third 
person. 

"  He  regarded  the  marriages  in  the  Gentile  world 
as  illegal,  inasmuch  as  they  were  performed  by 
ministers  who  confessed  they  were  sinners  even  in 
their  prayers  to  God,  and  sometimes  calling  them- 
selves the  chief  of  sinners,  and  yet  saying  in  con- 
clusion to  the  marriage  ceremony,  *  What  God  hath 
joined  together,  let  no  man  put  asunder.'  He  ad- 
vanced many  arguments  to  show  the  illegality  and 
P 


170  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  insufficiency  of  ministers,  upon  Bible  principle*, 
to  perform  so  important  and  holy  an  ordinance. 
He  said  if  he  had  endowed  them  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  sent  them  to  preach  his  Gospel,  he  would 
have  given  them  power  to  forgive  sins.  By  way  of 
illustrating,  he  would  inquire,  '  What  merchant  that 
employs  an  agent  to  collect  money,  does  not  em- 
power him  to  give  a  receipt  in  full.' 

«'  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  first  received  the  doctrines 
of  Matthias  upon  the  subject  of  marriage  through 
Mr.  Pierson,  nearly  a  year  before  Matthias  came 
to  Singsing.  As  has  been  stated  before,  Mr.  Pier- 
son  was  our  teacher ;  we  were  aware  that  his  views 
differed  essentially  from  those  advanced  by  most 
Christians,  yet  we  had  known  him  long,  and  had 
confidence  in  his  piety  and  his  experience.  He 
said  much  respecting  our  marriage,  and  upon  his 
(Mr.  Pierson's)  urgency,  we  were  rinarried  by  him, 
Dec.  31,  1S32.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
note  made  of  it  at  the  time  : — 

"'Mount  Pleasant,  Dec.  31,  1832. 

" '  The  marriage  of  Benjamin  H.  Folger  to  Ann 
Disbrow,  in  Gospel  order — Present,  Elijah  Pierson. 

" '  B.  H.  F.  Ann,  I  take  you  to  be  my  lawful 
wife,  and  I  promise  to  cherish  and  protect  you.  I 
pray  God  that  this  renewal  of  my  pledge  may  be 
acceptable  in  his  sight,  and  that  I  may  be  kept  in  it. 

"*.^/in.  Benjamin,  I  take  you  to  be  my  lawful 
husband,  and  promise  to  reverence,  obey,  and  love 
you. 


HIS    IMTOSTURES.  171 

^^*Mr.  Pierson.  In  obedience  you  are  blessed. 
And  following  on  to  know  the  Lord,  ye  shall  know 
him  and  become  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  livmg 
God. 

"'JVo^e. — We  were  married  in  what  is  called 
the  Christian  order  in  May,  1823.— 5.  H.  F.' 

■  "  Some  time  after  Matthias  came  to  our  house, 
ahout  eight  months  subsequent  to  the  above  named 
occurrence,  we  told  him  of  the  circumstance,  and 
expressed  our  anxiety  to  be  legally  married,  if  we 
had  not  been.  He  replied  that  it  was  well  we  had 
been  thus  re-married,  as  he  had  declared  about  the 
time  we  were  married  by  Mr.  Pierson,  that  all  the 
marriages  in  the  world  were  illegal,  and  should  be 
destroyed.  He  then  married  us  himself,  much  in 
the  same  way  that  Mr.  Pierson  had  done. 

"  The  impression  abroad  that  marriages  were  re- 
jected by  us  is  an  error.  It  was  regarded  as  a  most 
sacred  ordinance.  Matthias's  objection  was  to  the 
want  of  the  proper  order  in  the  present  regulations 
of  the  Gentile  world.  God,  he  said,  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  marriage  of  the  wicked,  or,  to  use  his 
words,  with  the  marriage  of  devils.  Nor  was  it  ac- 
ceptable in  the  sight  of  God  for  an  unholy  person — 
a  devil — to  marry  people.  Another  objection  was, 
— which  he  instanced  as  a  proof  of  error  in  the  mat- 
ter,— that  matches  were  made  without  there  being, 
seemingly,  on  the  part  of  parents  and  guardians  any 
regard  paid  to  the  question  whether  the  parties  were 
suited  for,  or  at  all  calculated  to  make  each  other 
happy,  and  that  the  consequence  was,  that  marriages 


172  MATTHIAS    AND 

were  generally  productive  of  unhappiness,  and  to 
most  of  the  female  parties,  it  was  a  state  of  wretch- 
edness. The  true  plan,  according  to  his  idea,  and 
the  one  practised  by  the  children  of  God,  was  for  the 
parent  to  choose  for  them  in  early  life,  to  educate 
them  with  this  understanding,  and  at  a  proper  age 
to  unite  them. 

"  He  knew  all  things,  as  he  said.  He  had  known 
our  course  in  life — of  Mrs.  Folger's  having  held 
prayer  meetings,  with  other  females,  from  house  to 
house,  and  declared  that  they  had  prayed  Samuel 
out  of  his  grave  the  second  time,  who  had  appeared 
before  him  in  Albany. 

"  We  did  not  worship  him  (Matthias)  precisely  as 
many  suppose.  For  a  time  after  he  came  to  us, 
we  continued  our  regular  family  worship  in  the 
usual  manner.  He  joined  in  it  so  far  as  to  shut  his 
eyes  when  others  were  in  prayer,  but  would  never 
kneel  with  others.  After  a  while,  he  objected  to 
others  kneeling,  or  practising  closet  prayer, — that 
God  had  made  man  upright  and  did  not  require  him 
to  kneel — nor  was  the  spirit  pleased  with  a  person's 
going  into  a  dark  corner  of  the  house  to  thank  God 
in  secret.  God  loved  light  and  hated  darkness. 
That  the  true  method  was  to  thank  the  spirit  of  God 
in  the  person  who  bestowed  a  blessing,  for  we  might 
be  sure  the  devil  would  bestow  no  blessing  on  us. 
We  did  not  cease  to  pray,  but  our  prayers  were 
mostly  ejaculatory.  We  always  addressed  God  by 
the  various  names  furnished  by  the  Scriptures,  such 
as  the  Great  Jehovah — the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  173 

and  Jacob — the  Almighty  God — Spirit  of  Truth — 
King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  Lords. 

"  He  knew  our  sincerity  and  purpose  of  heart  to 
serve  God,  and  that  we  had  occasionally  many 
doubts,  and  he  laboured  earnestly  at  such  seasons 
until  he  had  removed  them.  We  have  no  doubt 
that  God  has  seen  our  afflictions  and  witnessed  our 
sorrows.  Our  confidence  has  been  truly  in  God. 
He  has  delivered  us  from  these  errors,  and,  we  trust, 
will  yet  deliver  us  from  all  their  consequences. 

"  He  had  the  command  of  the  house  as  our  head, 
or  teacher,  and  '  Father,'  and  spent  much  time  in 
teaching  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger  how  to  rule 
their  households  when  we  should  become  separate 
families,  which  must  soon  take  place,  to  give  him 
an  opportunity  of  teaching  others  ;  for  there  were 
many  to  whom  he  had  preached,  nearly  ready  to 
come  into  the  kingdom. 

"  Mrs.  Folger  was  called  *  Mother'  by  nearly  all 
the  family.  Matthias  directed  this  for  the  reasons 
that  she  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  house — pro- 
vided clothing — washed  and  combed  the  children, 
and  made  them  every  way  comfortable,  which  was 
a  hard  task,  for  there  were  fifteen  persons  in  the 
family,  and  there  were  only  three  females,  including 
Mrs.  Folger.  But  the  evil  was,  that  he  always 
took  the  meal  time  to  preach,  and  generally  preached 
so  long  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  find  sufficient 
time  to  get  through  the  duties.  He  often  detained 
the  breakfast-table  until  ten  or  eleven^  o'clock  in  the 
morning — say  three  to  four  hours  ;  he  would  spend 
jseveral  hours  at  the  dinner-table ;  and  the  supper 
P2 


174  MATTHIAS    AND 

(as  the  third  meal  was  always  called)  table  until 
eight,  nine,  ten,  or  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  The 
house  was  required  to  be  kept  in  complete  order, 
and  the  meals  ready  at  stated  hours.  Sometimes, 
when  the  detention  had  been  great  by  his  preaching, 
he  would  undertake  to  impart  a  double  portion  of 
the  necessary  spirit  for  the  occasion,  which  those 
who  performed  the  duties  fancied  they  had,  for  they 
often  accomplished  more  in  a  given  time  than  they 
supposed  it  possible  to  do  under  other  circumstances. 
The  boys  very  often  rendered  assistance,  as  they 
knew  there  would  be  loud  censure  if  all  things  were 
not  in  readiness  in  season.  The  employment  of  the 
boys,  including  three  of  his  own,  pleased  him,  as 
it  fitted  them,  according  to  his  views,  for  the  office 
of  Levites.  We  were  bound  to  love  each  other  as 
we  loved  ourselves,  and  always  to  warn  a  brother 
or  sister  of  danger  when  any  of  them  were  seen  to 
break  any  of  the  rules  of  the  house.  He  whipped 
his  own  children  severely,  several  times,  with  a  cow- 
hide whip,  until  some  one  would  stand  responsible 
for  them.  Mrs.  Folger,  in  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Folger  and  Mr.  Pierson,  became  responsible  the 
first  time  for  the  two  youngest,  but  he  gave  notice 
that  he  would  not  accept  a  female  mediator  after 
that  time. 

"  He  was  anxious  to  have  his  family  with  us  for 
some  time  before  they  finally  came.  Mr.  Folger 
was  unwiUing  to  go  for  them,  and  suggested  that 
Mr.  Matthias  himself  should  go,  with  the  carriage 
and  horses,  but  he  declined  for  reasons  known  only 
to  himself.     At  length  Mr.  Matthias's  and  Mr.  Pier- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  175 

son's  continued  urgency  prevailed,  and  Mr.  Folger 
took  his  son  with  him  and  went  to  Albany,  with  the 
carriage,  for  his  wife  and  children.  He  found  them 
in  reduced  circumstances,  and  barely  able  to  obtain  a 
support.  He  gave  Mrs.  Matthews  whatever  means 
she  asked  for,  to  clothe  the  children  with  warm 
clothing  entirely — bought  several  articles  and  pre- 
sented them,  and  gave  her  money  for  her  own  pur- 
poses. Mr.  Folger  was  instructed  by  Matthias 
before  he  left  home,  as  he  understood  him,  in  case 
any  thing  should  prevent  any  of  the  family  from 
coming  before  the  spring,  to  have  them  comfortably 
provided  for  there  until  that  time  ;  and  in  conformity 
with  this  direction,  Mr.  Folger  promised  to  remit  Mrs. 
Matthews  thirty  dollars  on  the  first  of  each  month,  for 
the  support  of  herself  and  youngest  child,  about  five 
years  old — as  she  determined  not  to  go  herself,  or 
send  the  youngest  child,  until  spring  ;  but  on  report- 
ing the  promise  to  Matthias,  he  said  he  had  been 
misunderstood,  and  totally  forbade  any  money  being 
sent  her — that  she  was  a  wicked,  lying  devil,  un- 
worthy of  any  favour.  Mrs.  Matthews  gave  into. 
Mr.  F.'s  charge  four  of  the  children — a  daughter 
and  three  sons.  The  daughter  had  been  married 
about  a  month  previous,  to  a  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Laisdell ;  but  for  some  reason,  never  ex- 
plained, this  was  concealed  from  Mr.  Folger  by  the 
mother  and  the  husband,  or  he  would  have  felt  it  his 
duty  to  have  had  the  husband  accompany  the  children, 
or  to  decline  taking  the  daughter.  Mrs.  Laisdell 
mentioned  her  marriage  in  the  course  of  conversa- 
tion on  the  journey.     The  boys  were  somewhat 


176  MATTIUAS    AND 

imgovernable,  and  having  been  rather  exposed  at 
Albany,  their  manners  were  not  as  good  as  could 
have  been  desired,  so  that  with  four  boys  (including 
his  own  son)  and  Mrs.  Laisdeli,  he  found  it  quite  a 
burdensome  expedition,  and  excited  much  remark 
on  the  road,  which  was  truly  unpleasant. 

"  Soon  after  the  arrival  at  Zion  Hill — as  the  resi- 
dence at  Mount  Pleasant  was  called — Mr.  Matthias 
sent  Mr.  Pierson  to  bring  his  daughter  to  him.  The 
father  and  daughter  were  left  in  a  room  together. 
We  heard  him  whip  her,  and  her  cries,  and  we  sup- 
pose he  whipped  her  with  a  cowhide,  although  we  did 
not  know  that  he  had  one — it  sounded  as  though  he 
struck  her  three  times.  He  then  sent  for  Mrs.  Folger 
— told  her  to  furnish  Mrs.  Laisdeli  with  a  dress,  as 
she  then  had  on  a  habit  sent  to  Albany  for  her  by  Mrs. 
Folger.  Matthias  likewise  directed  another  suit  of 
clothes  to  be  prepared  for  each  of  his  boys.  Mrs. 
Folger  then  took  Mrs.  Laisdeli  to  a  room,  assisted 
in  dressing  her,  and  washed  and  dressed  the  chil- 
dren. The  family  then  dined,  and  the  afternoon 
and  evening  were  spent  in  listening  to  Matthias's 
conversation  or  teaching.  Mrs.  Laisdeli  appeared 
cheerful,  and  answered  all  her  father's  questions 
respectfully.  The  next  morning,  after  breakfast, 
Mr.  Matthias  called  for  Mrs.  Folger  to  come  to  the 
parlour,  where  he  was  conversing  with  Mr.  Pierson, 
and  told  her  to  go  to  Mrs.  Laisdeli  and  ask  her  how 
she  felt  towards  her  father,  and  to  let  him  know — 
she  went  accordingly,  and  found  Mrs.  Laisdeli  in 
her  room  sitting  by  a  window.  Mrs.  Folger  took 
a  seat  beside  her,  made  some  observations  upon  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  *  177 

scenery  in  view,  and  then  asked  her  if  she  felt  happy 
and  contented  ?  Mrs.  Laisdell  replied  that  the  place 
was  a  pleasant  one,  and  there  was  every  thing  there 
calculated  to  make  her  happy  ;  but  the  idea  of  living 
with,  or  being  under  the  control  of  her  father,  who 
was  a  tyrant,  would  imbitter  all  her  days.  Mrs. 
Folger  asked  her  if  it  was  not  possible  she  was 
mistaken — that  she  thought  him  a  very  holy,  en- 
lightened, but  persecuted  man.  Mrs.  Laisdell  re- 
plied that  she  knew  him  better  than  we  did,  and,  for 
her  part,  she  had  rather  die  than  hve  with  him. 
Mrs.  Folger  told  her  she  should  be  careful  how  she 
rejected  the  instruction  her  father  was,  as  she 
thought,  capable  of  giving.  Mrs.  Laisdell  then 
asked  if  she  could  write  to  Albany  ?  Mrs.  Folger 
replied,  that  she  did  not  know,  that  she  could  ask 
her  father,  who  could  furnish  her  with  pen  and  paper, 
as  he  had  the  key  of  the  desk.  She  requested  Mrs. 
Folger  to  ask  for  the  articles,  and  she  went  to  do 
so.  He  was  still  sitting  in  the  parlour  with  Mr. 
Pierson.  She  asked  him  if  Mrs.  Laisdell  could 
have  writing  materials  to  write  to  her  mother.  He 
made  no  reply  to  this,  but  asked  what  her  feelings 
were  towards  him.  Mrs.  Folger  replied  that  Mrs. 
Laisdell  wished  to  return  to  her  mother,  as  she  had 
promised  to  ;  but  he  exacted  of  Mrs.  Folger  all  she 
had  said,  which  she  repeated — not  anticipating  any 
farther  correction,  as  she  was  not  accustomed  to  such 
scenes.  Mrs.  Folger  then  left  them  to  attend  to 
the  duties  of  the  house,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he 
brought  his  daughter  into  the  room  which  she  was 
putting  in  order.     It  would  seem  that  she  had  de- 


178  Matthias  and 

nied  to  him  what  she  had  said  to  Mrs.  Folger ;  for 
he  inquired,  on  entering  the  room,  '  did  she  not  say 
she  had  rather  die  than  hve  with  me  V — to  which 
]\[rs.  Folger  rephed,  'Yes,  sir.'  He  then  took  a 
cowhide- whip,  which  must  have  been  concealed 
about  his  person,  and  said,  '  take  death  with  every 
stroke.'  Mrs.  Folger  stood  in  alarm,  not  knowing 
what  to  do,  but  to  stand  still.  She  knew,  too,  that 
Mr.  Pierson  was  in  the  next  room,  but  he  did  not 
interfere.  But  Mrs.  Laisdell  appeared  to  know  her 
father,  and  know  what  to  do,  for  she  first  held  up 
one  hand  above  her  head,  and  then  both,  upon 
which  he  immediately  ceased  whipping  her.  Mrs. 
Folger  felt  much  sympathy  for  her,  but  dared  not  to 
express  it — she  put  her  arms  round  her  neck  and 
kissed  her — washed  her  wounded  shoulders  and  put 
sweet  oil  on  them.  Mr.  Matthias  appeared  very 
kind  to  her  always  after  this ;  but  he  observed  to 
Mr.  Pierson  at  the  time,  and  to  the  family  afterward, 
that  her  mother's  spirit  was  in  her,  but  he  had  cast 
it  out,  which  seemed  to  be  a  confirmation  of  our 
then  belief,  for  she  manifested  from  that  time,  as 
long  as  she  was  with  us,  a  pleasant  spirit.  Mrs. 
Matthews  was  represented  by  her  husband  as  a  very 
wicked  woman.  Sometimes  we  would  remember 
Mrs.  Laisdell's  words  respecting  her  father,  which, 
taken  in  connection  with  Mrs.  Matthews's  state- 
ment to  Mr.  Folger,  while  he  was  at  Albany,  in 
which  she  menfioned  some  extremely  brutal  treat- 
ment, would  excite  doubts.  But  this  was  repeated 
to  Miitihias,  and  he  denied  it  entirely,  and  pro- 
nounced her  one  of  the  greatest  of  liars,  whose 


HIS   I3IP0STURES.  179 

word  could  not  be  taken  for  any  thing.  Mr.  Pier- 
son  would  say,  when  the  subject  was  mentioned  to 
him,  that  '  Joshua,  the  high-priest,  must  be  found 
with  Satan  at  his  right  hand  to  resist  him,  as  de- 
clared in  the  third  chapter  of  Zechariah.'  Mrs. 
Folger  has  seen  Mrs.  Matthews  since  our  separa- 
tion from  Matthias,  and  she  appeared  to  be  an 
agreeable  woman.  Her  accounts  to  Mrs.  Folger 
of  her  sufferings  with  Mr.  Matthias,  awakened  her 
sympathies  for  her,  and  she  expressed  her  regret  to 
Mrs.  Matthews  that  she  had  not  come  to  Zion  Hill 
when  sent  for. 

"Matthias  once  whipped  the  coloured  woman 
(Isabella)  under  the  following  circumstances.  She 
was  quite  unwell,  which  Mrs.  Folger  observed,  and 
asked  Matthias,  who  came  into  the  kitchen,  if  she 
might  lie  down,  a  request  that  was  granted.  She, 
however,  did  not  avail  herself  of  the  permission, 
but  sat  down  by  the  kitchen  fire.  Matthias  again 
visited  the  kitchen  within  an  hour  or  two — found 
one  of  his  sons  in  some  mischief,  which  he  cor- 
rected him  for,  and  the  coloured  woman  undertook 
to  intercede,  which  was  offensive  to  Matthias,  as  it 
was  a  female  intercessor,  possessed  of  a  sick  devil 
withal — upon  which  he  quickly  lashed  her  with  his 
cowhide,  saying,  '  Shall  a  sick  devil  undertake  to 
dictate  to  me  V  She  then  denied  that  she  was  sick, 
and  was  called  up  stairs  to  testify  that  the  sick  devil 
had  departed,  and  appeared  well  from  that  time. 
We  presume  we  should  all  have  submitted  to  stripes 
in  time,  for  he  taught  us  that  if  we  deserved  them  it 
would  be  a  lighter  punishment  than  the  spirit  would 


180  MATTHIAS    AND 

inflict  commissioned  by  him,  and,  indeed,  we  would 
rather  have  taken  stripes  sometimes,  than  hear  his 
long  vollies  of  threats,  and  curses,  and  his  swearing 
by  himself,  for  there  was  none  greater,  that  they 
should  all  come  to  pass  at  his  word. 

"  For  the  most  trifling  offence  of  one  of  the  chil- 
dren the  whole  family  must  needs  be  summoned,  and 
each  one  testify  if  all  had  been  done  to  prevent  the 
evil,  and  to  offer  an  opportunity  for  some  one  to  in- 
tercede for  the  transgressor  who  was  exposed  to  his 
wrath.  Sometimes  he  would  in  these  cases  impli- 
cate two  or  three,  and  at  others,  the  whole  family. 
He  managed  these  cases  very  ingeniously  :  he  would 
discern  and  trace  the  spirit  from  one  to  another  until 
he  could  fix  it  in  the  one  that  was  strongest  in  the 
faith  and  could  best  bear  reproof,  upon  whom  he 
would  vent  himself  He  could  save  all,  however 
deeply  implicated,  when  asked  for  salvation.  Some- 
times he  was  obliged  to  be  responsible  for  his  own 
sons,  for  we  were  at  times  wearied  of  him,  his  doc- 
trines, and  his  family,  for  his  boys  took  advantage 
of  his  mede  of  government,  and  none  were  willing 
to  become  responsible  for  them.  But  this  he  would 
get  along  with  :  he  would  go  into  a  state  of  extreme 
suffering, — apparently,  his  nerves  would  become  con- 
tracted,— he  would  appear  to  weep, — and  then  his 
darling  attribute,  justice,  would  be  satisfied.  When 
he  became  tired  of  this,  as  we  now  suppose  he  did, 
and  the  same  difficulties  occurred  with  his  sons,  he 
adopted  another  plan  ; — he  would  hand  his  two- 
edged  sword  to  the  injured  party,  to  cut  off  his 
(Matthias's)  hand,  or  arm,  or  to  wound  him,  as  much 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  181 

as  would  satisfy  the  party,  but  as  no  one  was  dis- 
posed to  do  this,  their  only  course  would  be  to  for- 
give. 

"  In  answer  to  the  weariness  we  expressed  at 
times,  we  were  told  by  Matthias  and  Mr.  Pierson 
that  judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of  God,  and 
they  only  who  endured  to  the  end  could  be  saved. 
We  were  encouraged,  too,  with  their  assurances  that 
the  time  was  short — only  three  years  and  a  half — 
when  our  eternity  of  peace  would  begin.  He  like- 
wise taught  that  v/hen  the  spirit  reproved  evils  in 
the  house  of  God,  it  reproved  for  them  in  the  whole 
world.  Our  advantage  was  to  hear  his  instructions 
and  rid  ourselves  of  all  those  spirits  that  had  sinned 
in  any  age,  and  prepare  for  the  great  day  of  ac- 
counts ;  for  he  would  call  every  spirit  to  an  accountj 
and  whatever  flesh  embodied  any  spirit  that  had 
sinned,  from  the  days  of  Adam  to  that  time,  it  should 
suffer  in  the  flesh  in  which  it  was  found. 

"  He  undertook  to  give  us  all  the  particulars  of 
the  judgment  day — the  total  destruction  of  the 
wicked  on  the  earth,  and  the  disposal  of  all  things. 

"  The  preaching  of  the  Gospel  was,  to  feed  the 
hungry,  clothe  the  naked,  &c. — that  he  had  told  us 
in  his  word,  his  people  would  be  at  his  right  hand — 
his  enemies  on  his  left ;  and  his  language  would  be 
to  those  on  his  right,  '  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye 
gave  me  meat :  I  was  thirsty  and  ye  gave  me  drink  : 
I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in :  naked,  and 
ye  clothed  me.' 

"  He  often  spoke  of  state-prisons,  jails,  and  other 
places  of  confinement,  and  testified  of  the  wicked- 


182  MATTHIAS    AND 

ness  and  oppression  he  had  witnessed  in  these 
places  at  Albany  and  elsewhere.  He  said  that  of- 
fenders seldom,  if  ever,  obtained  forgiveness  of  the 
Gentile  world,  however  sincere  their  repentance — 
but,  that  though  their  bodies  were  confined,  they 
could  not  lock  up  the  spirit,*  for  it  went  abroad,  took 
possession  of  others,  and  committed  the  same 
depredations — but  he,  Matthias,  could  control  the 
spirit. 

"  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger,  after  due  con- 
sideration, determined,  long  before  they  knew  Mat- 
thias, to  give  themselves  and  all  they  possessed  to 
the  service  of  God.  Their  only  object  was  to  as- 
certain in  what  way  God  would  have  them  employed, 
and  employ  the  means  he  had  given  them,  and  they 
were  prepared  to  do  the  will  of  God. 

"  Mr.  Pierson  had  been  long  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  in  Pearl-street.  He  was,  probably, 
one  of  the  best  of  merchants  in  his  line  of  business. 
No  one  ever  stood  higher  for  truth  and  uprightness, 
and  perfect  fair  dealing,  than  he  did — and  deservedly 
so.  Mr.  Pierson  retired  from  his  Pearl-street  busi- 
ness in  January,  1832.  Mr.  Folger,  after  being 
engaged  in  business  in  Pearl-street  many  years,  re- 
tired from  that  business  at  the  close  of  1832.  He 
purchased,  a  few  months  previous,  the  convenient 
mansion  and  farm,  known  as  the  Heartt  Place, 
situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson,  town  of 
Mount  Pleas^ant,  Westchester  county.  New- York, 
about  thirty  miles  from  town.  He  had  rented  and 
occupied  the  place  from  the  month  of  May  prior. 
*  Matthias,  then,  had  probably  read  Cowper — Author. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  183 

"  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  ]  833,  whenever 
he  went  to  New- York,  he  boarded  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  city ;  but  having  joined  Mr.  Pierson  in 
several  business  operations,  entirely  new  to  both  of 
them,  it  was  necessary  to  see  him  often,  and  he 
made  it  a  rule  to  see  him  once  or  twice  a  week ; 
and  at  length,  at  Mr.  Pierson's  request,  he  consented 
to  furnish  one  of  Mr.  Pierson's  bed-rooms  himself, 
and  occupy  it  for  his  lodgings  when  in  town.  He 
occasionally  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Pierson.  This 
arrangement  afforded  more  time  for  conversation  on 
the  subjects  of  religion  and  business.  This  was  the 
second  time  that  Mr.  Folger  had  taken  up  his  par- 
tial residence  with  Mr.  Pierson,  whenever  he  came 
to  town.  The  first  time  was  in  the  winter  of  1832 
and  1833,  when  he  accepted  Mr.  Pierson's  invita- 
tion, upon  the  condition  of  his  paying  him  four  dol- 
lars per  week,  which  he  considered  sufficient  pay- 
ment, as  he  never  stayed  all  the  week,  and  always 
dined  down  town.  This  arrangement,  however, 
continued  but  for  a  short  period,  when  Mr.  Folger 
went  down  town  to  board,  and  continued  until  his 
return,  at  Mr.  Pierson's  solicitation,  in  the  summer 
of  1833,  as  mentioned  above.  Previous  to  this, 
Mr.  Pierson  had  occasionally  visited  Mr.  Folger's 
residence  at  Mount  Pleasant,  with  his  little  daughter, 
and  as  we  sincerely  respected  him,  and  honoured 
him  as  an  experienced  Christian,  and  our  teacher, 
the  visits  appeared  to  give  him  pleasure.  They 
certainly  did  us. 

"  Matthias,  as  has  been  before  stated,  came  to 
Singsing  about  the  twentieth  of  August,  1833.  In 
consequence  of  his  (Matthias's)  complaints  of  his 


184  MATTHIAS    AND 

suffering  and  poverty,  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger 
agreed  to  unite  in  the  expense  of  allowing  him 
two  dollars  per  day  for  his  support.  He,  how- 
ever, now  said  that  he  ought  not  to  live  in  a  hired 
house  subject  to  the  control  of  others  :  he  proposed, 
and  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger  agreed,  to  pur- 
chase a  lot,  and  build  him  a  house  in  Greenwich 
village.  He  must  have  the  house  built  of  stone, 
for  bricks  were  particularly  offensive  to  the  Spirit, 
as  the  children  of  God  had  been  much  oppressed  by 
the  Egyptians  in  the  making  of  them.  This  was 
agreed  to, — but  before  any  thing  was  done  in  it,  he 
discovered  that  Mr.  Folger  had  purchased  the  man- 
sion he  then  owned  on  the  precise  day  on  which  the 
Gentiles  had  broken  up  the  kingdom  at  Mr.  M.'s 
house  in  New- York,  and  he  regarded  it  as  the 
influence  of  the  Spirit  providing  a  residence  for 
him.     Here  the  matter  rested  for  a  time. 

"Mr.  Pierson,  after  a  severe  fit  of  illness,  m 
August  and  September,  1833,  with  an  attack  of  the 
paralysis,  came  to  Mount  Pleasant,  to  Mr.  Folger's, 
about  October  of  that  year.  He  soon  recovered 
his  usual  health. 

"  There  was  now  continued  conversation  about 
the  Father's  living  in  a  hired  house,  or  in  a  son's 
house  ; — it  was  like  the  error  abroad  in  the  Gentile 
world, — they  were  all  continually  preaching  about 
the  Son's  kingdom,  when  the  truth  vvas,  it  was  the 
Father's  kingdom  that  was  to  be  set  up,  and  not  the 
Son's.  There  was  no  end  to  this  subject.  Mr. 
Pierson  and  IMr.  Folger  had  frequent  conversations 
upon  it,  and  it  was  finally  agreed  between  them  tha,t 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  185 

Mr.  Folger  should  give  Matthias  a  deed  of  the  said 
mansion  at  the  joint  expense  of  Mr.  P.  and  Mr.  F., 
and  at  the  same  time  both  should  give  him  the  con- 
trol of  their  furniture — Mr.  Pierson's  in  New- York, 
and  Mr.  Folger's  at  Mount  Pleasant.  About  the 
first  of  November,  1833,  Mr.  Folger  obtained  a 
blank  deed  at  Singsing,  filled  it  up,  wrote  the  cer- 
tificate of  acknowledgment,  so  that  the  commis- 
sioner before  whom  it  was  acknowledged,  Mr. 
QtV****  of  Singsing,  had  only  to  attach  his  signa- 
ture as  commissioner  and  witness,  which  was  done. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  high  hand  of  Mat- 
thias in  the  village  about  this  time,  where  he  in- 
dulged in  calling  all  devils  who  disagreed  with  him, 
together  with  the  circumstance  of  Mr.  F.'s  having 
bought  a  blank  deed,  induced  the  suspicion  that  Mr. 
F.  had  conveyed  to  Matthias  all  his  property.  Such 
a  report,  at  any  rate,  became  current,  and  fearing 
it  might  be  prejudicial  to  his  business  operations, 
which  his  new  business  with  Mr.  Pierson  had  ex- 
tended so  as  to  expose  him  to  danger  in  the  then 
pinching  times  in  the  mercantile  world,  he  repre- 
sented it,  and  it  wa3  to  be  considered  annulled.  He, 
accordingly,  upon  meeting  the  rumour,  as  he  very 
soon  did  at  New- York,  assured  all  his  fiiends  that 
his  property  was  entirely  in  his  control,  and  that  it 
should  continue  to  be  so.  His  credit,  however,  had 
received  a  severe  wound — the  times  became  more 
and  more  trying  in  the  mercantile  world — he  had 
over-imported  for  a  business  concern — there  seemed 
to  be  a  curse  resting  upon  every  thing  undertaken 
with  Mr.  Pierson  for  the  support  of  '  the  kingdom,' 
Q2 


186  MATTHIAS    AND 

as  it  was  called — and  notwithstanding  Mr.  Pierson's 
encouragement  that  the  kingdom  operations  would 
soon  react,  return  some  tenfold  and  some  a  hundred- 
fold, yet  he  saw  that  unless  he  could  get  through 
the  winter  and  spring  of  1834,  he  should  probably 
be  totally  ruined.  He  believed  himself  abundantly 
able  to  carry  all  through — Mr.  Pierson  often  ex- 
amined and  advised — and  ]\Ir.  F.  made  great  ef- 
forts ;  but  in  the  mean  time,  his  credit  had  become 
so  deeply  wounded,  and  the  times  so  seriously  se- 
vere, that,  after  struggling  against  every  thing,  he 
found  himself  compelled  to  suspend  payment  at  the 
close  of  March,  1834.  He,  however,  still  believed 
that  he  would  pay  all  he  owed  and  save  a  handsome 
property,  as  he  showed  a  large  surplus,  although 
much  extended.  But  the  continued  depression  in 
the  times,  with  the  severe  loss  attending  all  the  ope- 
rations commenced  with  Mr.  Pierson  for  the  benefit 
of  '  the  kingdom,'  together  with  the  large  sacrifices 
he  was  compelled  to  make  in  closing  several 
branches  of  legitimate  mercantile  business,  not  only 
swept  off  all  his  own  property,  but  also  the  property 
he  had  belonging  to  Mrs.  Folger's  estate,  and  re- 
ceived in  trust  for  her  individual  use  from  that  of  her 
father.  This  was,  however,  unavoidable,  as  the  law 
would  not  allow  of  its  being  protected,  and  we  had 
no  wish  to  be  guilty  of  any  cheating  towards  any 
one. 

"  It  is  proper  to  give  here  a  copy  of  the  letter 
which  Mr.  Pierson  addressed  to  Mr.  Folger,  upon 
the  occasion  of  the  execution  of  the  deed  of  the 
Mount  Pleasant  mansion  on   the  2d  November, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  187 

1833,  and  likewise  to  mention  that  under  one  pre- 
tence and  another,  Matthias  withheld  the  deed  from 
Mr.  Folger,  until  full  eight  months  after  the  time  it 
was  annulled  by  his  agreement.  ' 

(copy.) 

" '  Mount  Pleasant,  Nov.  2,  1833. 
"  '  Mr.  Benjamin  H.  Folger, 
'"Sir, 
"  '  Your  letter  of  this  date  I  have  received,  which  informs  me 
■that  you  have,  in  agreement  with  our  verbal  understanding,  exe- 
cuted a  deed  of  your  mansion  and  farm,  lately  known  as  the 
Heartt  place,  to  Mr.  Robert  Matthias,  for  the  setting  up  and  es- 
tablishing "  the  Father's  House."  This  act  has  my  cordial  ap- 
probation, inasmuch  as  it  is  intended  to  advance  the  establish- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  God.  I  agree  to  bear  one  half  of  the 
charge,  and  hereby  authorize  you  to  debit  my  account  with  my 
proportion,  deducting  the  same  from  any  moneys  you  may  re- 
ceive of  mine,  and  charging  me  with  one  half  of  the  mortgage, 
when  you  may  see  lit  to  discharge  it,  together  with  the  interest, 
making  a  total  debit  to  me  of  from  three  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  fifty,  to  four  thousand  dollars,  for  this  purpose. 

"  '  Yours  with  esteem, 

'i' Elijah  Pierson.' 

"  This  matter  being,  as  before  said,  annulled,  and 
Mr.  Folger's  difficulties  and  embarrassments  call- 
ing him  to  New- York  and  elsewhere  much  of  the 
itime,  afforded  opportunities  for  Matthias  to  make 
other  arrangements  with  Mr.  Pierson.  Early  in 
March  following,  Mr.  F.  gave  Mr.  Pierson,  at  his 
request,  a  deed  of  his  place  at  Mount  Pleasant,  and 
a  bill  of  sale  of  his  furniture.  Mr.  Pierson  imme- 
diately conveyed  both  to  Matthias  ;  but  it  has  since 
been  obtained  for  Mr.  Pierson's  daughter,  through 
the  legal  proceedings  instituted  bv  the  attornies  of 
.the  estate  for  that  purpose. 


188  MATTHIAS    AND 

"  When  Mr.  Folger  suspended  payment,  he  owed 
about  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
Soon  after  this,  Matthias,  in  presence  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son  and  Mrs.  Fdger,  undertook  a  very  ingenious 
argument  to  show  that  all  the  property  in  the  world 
belonged  to  the  children  of  God — that  all  the  Gen- 
tiles had  was,  in  fact,  stolen  from  God's  people — 
and  that  there  could  be  no  real  indebtedness  to  the 
Gentile  world. 

"  The  object  of  this  was  very  plain.  Mr.  Pier- 
son  made  no  reply;  but  Mr.  F.  immediately  said 
to  him,  that  however  true  it  was,  yet,  for  himself,  he 
had  committed  himself  to  the  Gentile  world — so  to 
call  it — that  all  his  property  was  pledged  to  them, 
until  every  debt  he  owed  them  was  paid — and  he 
should  certainly  persevere  until  this  was  done. 
Matthews  had  evidently  thrown  this  suggestion  out 
to  make  a  trial,  and  perceiving  that  it  would  not 
take,  he  at  once  changed  his  ground,  and  pretended 
to  regard  the  course  Mr.  F.  decided  upon  as  the 
true  one. 

"In  the  spring  of  1834,  the  excitement  was  so 
strong  that  Matthias  could  no  longer  pass  up  and 
down  in  the  steamboat  with  safety.  Indeed,  the 
probability  is,  that,  but  for  the  protection  which  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Folger  afforded  him,  he  would  have  been 
severely  handled  before  that  time,  owing  to  his  high- 
handed impudence  in  pronouncing  every  one  a  devil 
who  refused  to  receive  his  doctrine?.  The  conse- 
quence was,  that  whenever  he  visited  New- York,  he 
came  with  the  carriage  and  horses.  In  May  of 
that  year,  on  the  way  up,  about  twenty  miles  from 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  189 

New- York,  his  son  driving,  one  of  the  horses  be- 
came troublesome,  and  after  the  difficulty  had  con- 
tinued some  time,  Mr.  Folger  concluded  to  take  the 
reins  :  they  were  then  about  to  descend  a  steep  hill ; 
the  fractious  horse  became  exceedingly  troublesome, 
and  finally  broke  the  pole  of  the  carriage.  This  ac- 
cident threw  the  carriage  upon  the  horses, — they  ran 
with  great  fury,  tore  the  harness  to  pieces,  and  upset 
the  carriage,  but  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Folger, 
who  was  stunned  for  a  few  moments,  no  one  was 
hurt.  It  was  a  most  providential  escape.  This 
perilous  incident  occurred  three  miles  from  Yonkers. 
Mr.  Folger  endeavoured  to  get  some  of  the  farmers* 
wagons  to  take  them  on,  but  could  not  succeed. 
He  at  last  obtained  wagons  from  Yonkers,  to  which 
place  they  returned  and  lodged  there  that  night. 
Early  m  the  morning  Mr.  Folger  made  arrange- 
ments for  a  conveyance  to  take  all  to  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, but  Mr.  Matthias  refused  to  ride  unless  he 
could  have  the  ordering  of  the  arrangement.  This 
was  a  very  petty  business,  and  Mr.  Folger  en- 
deavoured to  persuade  him  to  ride,  ofl^ering  him  an 
entire  wagon  for  himself;  but  he  refused,  and  was 
left  to  walk  the  fifteen  miles  on  foot.  Mr.  Pierson, 
however,  thought  it  best  to  send  a  saddle-horse  for 
him,  which  met  him  about  two  miles  from  our  resi- 
dence. 

"  On  Sunday,  June  1,  1834,  Mr.  Folger  was  de- 
tained at  New-York  by  unavoidable  circumstances. 
The  rest  of  the  family  were  at  Mount  Pleasant. 
He  became  very  much  concerned  respecting  Mat- 
thias's doctrines,  and  after  contending  for  a  while, 


190  MATTHIAS    AND 

he  sought  relief  in  prayer.  At  length  he  concluded 
to  go  and  hear  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Du- 
bois, the  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  in 
Franklin-street,  whom  he  had  always  respected  and 
esteemed  as  a  minister  earnestly  and  honestly  en- 
gaged in  doing  good.  His  sermon  (as  they  gene- 
rally are)  was  very  powerful — Mr.  F.  was  entirely 
overcome,  and  although  he  endeavoured  to  resist 
it,  yet  he  could  not  avoid  weeping  and  exposing  his 
exercises  to  others.  He  sat  in  the  pew  of  his 
mother-in-law, — went  from  the  church  to  her  house, 
and  told  her  privately  of  his  fears  that  we  were  all 
in  error.  In  the  afternoon  he  attended  the  Rev. 
Mr.  White's  church,  in  Allen-street.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  he  went  to  Mount  Pleasant,  intend- 
ing to  withdraw  his  family  from  there.  The  first 
person  he  met  was  IMatthias,  who  approached  him 
with  the  ofier  of  his  hand,  but  it  was  rejected,  and 
he  was  rudely  thrust  aside  ;  upon  which  Matthias 
stepped  briskly  into  his  room,  obtained  his  sword, 
and  headed  Mr.  Folger  in  the  hall.  This  enraged 
Mr.  F.  to  a  high  degree  ;  he  seized  Matthias  by  his 
throat,  carried  him  back  into  the  sitting  room,  and 
thrust  him  upon  the  settee.  He  has  always  been 
unable  to  account  for  his  strength  on  that  occasion, 
for  he  has  not  usually  half  the  strength  of  Matthias. 
Matthias,  however,  is  a  very  great  coward,  and  it  is 
probable  that  his  fears  destroyed  all  his  strength. 
Nothing  but  the  interference  of  others  on  that  oc- 
casion, probably,  prevented  such  a  treatment  of  the 
impostor  as  he  merited.  Mr.  Pierson,  and  all  others, 
protested  against  his  conduct  as  being  wrong,  and 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  191 

as  the  consequence  of  the  influence  of  an  untrue 
spirit.  Mr.  Pierson  invited  hitn  to  have  a  private 
interview  with  him — repeated  his  experience,  his 
close  examination  of  Matthias  and  his  principles, 
and  concluded  by  a  renewed  expression  of  his  entire 
and  perfect  confidence  in  the  truth  and  uprightness 
of  Matthias  and  his  doctrines.  The  difficulty  was 
not,  however,  easily  settled  ;  but  Matthias,  seeing  his 
danger,  adopted  a  mild  course.  We  all  sat  up  till 
midnight  in  conversation ;  and,  in  conclusion,  Mr. 
Folger  was  induced  to  believe  he  had  committed  a 
decided  error,  in  a  fit  of  anger,  while  under  the  in- 
fluence of  an  untrue  spirit,  and  the  storm  was  nearly 
hushed.  It,  however,  should  be  mentioned,  that  a 
rumour  of  difficijity  had  reached  Sino;sing,  and  sup- 
posing their  services  might  be  useful,  several  of  Mr. 
Folger's  friends  came  down  at  a  late  hour  in  the 
evening,  and  through  Mr.  R*****  announced  to 
Mr.  F.  that  Mr.  F*****,  the  postmaster.  Colonel 
W*****,  Mr.  E*******,  Major  S***,  and  several 
others  of  his  friends  were  near  the  house,  willing  to 
render  him  any  aid  he  might  need.  Upon  Mr.  F  's 
assurance  that  all  was  quiet,  that  he  was  thankful 
for  their  kindness,  and  that  he  would  be  in  the  vil- 
lage early  the  next  day,  they  took  their  leave.  The 
next  day  he  met  at  the  village  a  number  of  persons, 
and,  among  others,  the  di-^trict  attorney,  Mr.  N*****. 
Mr.  F.  had  a  private  interview  with  several  truly 
worthy  persons,  and  expressed  to  them  precisely  his 
views  of  Matthias  and  his  doctrines.  They  proba- 
bly perceived  Mr.  F.'s  deep  delusion,  and  considered 
it  useless  to  do  any  thing  more  at  that  moment. 


192  MATTHIAS    AND 

"  Mr.  E***"****,  however,  one  of  his  friends, 
said  to  him  that,  after  duly  considering  all  circum- 
stances, he  had  fully  determined  that  Matthias  should 
no  longer  stay  there, — that  unless  he  was  out  of  that 
house  before  four  o'clock  of  that  day,  he  would  him- 
self show  him  how  they  dealt  with  rogues  where  he 
had  been.  This  was  reported  to  Matthias, — he  be- 
came much  alarmed, — took  his  beard  off,  and  left 
there  that  night,  June  3d,  for  New- York  city,  where 
he  arrived  the  next  morninur,  and  put  up  at  the  City 
Hotel.  He  said  to  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger 
before  he  left,  that  the  persecution  had  now  become 
so  strong  that  it  would  be  proper  for  him  to  change 
his  name,  and  that  he  would  address  us  from  some 
point  south  under  the  name  of  David  Abraham. 
He  did  not,  however,  go  south,  but  in  a  few  days 
afterward  took  up  his  residence  in  Third-street, 
New- York,  where  he  remained  until  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  July,  two  days  before  Mr.  Pierson's 
last  illness,  with  the  exception  that  he  made  one  fly- 
ing  visit  to  Singsing  and  immediately  back,  with  a 
carriage  and  four  horses,  and  attended  by  two  ser- 
vants, in  the  month  of  June. 

"As  has  been  previously  stated,  Mr.  Pierson 
came  to  Mount  Pleasant  in  October,  1833,  after  his 
recovery  from  an  attack  of  paralysis,  and  appeared 
to  recover  his  usual  health.  About  January  follow- 
ing, however,  he  had  a  slight  return  of  it,  and  from 
that  time  forward  he  would  now  and  then  be  seized 
with  a  fit,  and  fall.  As  the  spring  advanced,  the  fits 
returned  as  often  as  once  a  week,  so  that  it  was 
generally  deemed  best  for  Mr.  Folger's  little  boy  to 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  193 

accompany  him,  whenever  he  was  out  about  the 
premises,  to  report  to  Matthias  if  he  was  attacked. 
The  attacks  were  generally  slight,  and  he  would  be 
walking  about  in  from  half  an  hour  to  an  hour  after- 
ward. Mr.  Pierson  expressed  himself  satisfied  that 
he  should  overcome  them, — -he  regarded  them  as 
the  last  struggle  of  the  devil  with  him,  and  he  was 
satisfied  he  should  master  him.  Matthias  would 
often  make  him  arise  and  walk  before  the  fit  was 
broken,  which  Mr.  Pierson  would  be  pleased  to  hear 
when  he  came  out  of  the  fit.  He  was  not  gene- 
rally aware  of  an  approaching  attack  by  any  un- 
pleasant sensation,  but  sometimes  he  would  say  that 
be  felt  as  though  he  should  have  a  fit,  upon  which 
Matthias  would  tell  him  to  resist  it,  and  as  he  gene- 
rally escaped  on  those  occasions,  it  induced  the  be- 
lief that  he  had  eflfectually  resisted. 

"  Mr.  Pierson's  sickness,  which  terminated  in  his 
death,  commenced  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
July  29,  1834.  The  evening — say  twenty-four 
hours — before,  he  ate  freely  of  some  blackberries, 
picked  by  Matthias  and  his  youngest  son,  and  pre- 
pared with  sugar  for  the  table,  as  is  supposed,  by 
the  coloured  woman.  The  persons  at  the  table  at 
the  time  were  Mr.  Pierson,  Mrs.  Folger,  Catharine, 
and  Matthias.  The  latter  served  out  the  black- 
berries at  that  time,  as  he  invariably  did  every  de- 
scription of  food  at  the  meals.  He  helped  Mr. 
Pierson,  Mrs.  Folger,  and  Catharine  to  the  berries, 
but  none  to  himself.  Mr.  Pierson  ate  two  ordinary 
sized  dessert  plates  full :  Catharine  one  :  Mrs.  Fol- 
ger tasted  of  them ;  remarked  that  they  were  not 
R 


194  MATTHIAS    AND 

perfectly  ripe  and  sweet ;  and,  owing  to  the  state  of 
her  health,  which  had  been  feeble  for  many  years^ 
declined  them,  lest  they  should  disagree  with  her. 
Her  appetite,  from  her  long  suffering,  had  become 
completely  disciplined,  and  notwithstanding  Mat- 
thias's frequent  urging  and  commanding  her  to  eat 
certain  descriptions  of  food,  she  had  not  faith  to  do 
it.  This  was  a  point  that  Matthias  endeavoured  to 
overcome,  but  never  succeeded.  He  took  no  no- 
tice of  the  remark  of  Mrs.  Folger  that  the  black- 
berries were  not  ripe  and  sweet,  making  his  own 
meal  of  dry  toast  and  coffee.  He  preached  during 
the  meal,  as  was  his  usual  practice.  Near  the 
close  of  the  meal,  Mrs.  Folger  observed  that  Mat- 
thias had  eaten  no  berries,  and  as  soon  as  a  suf- 
ficient pause  in  his  speaking  permitted,  mentioned 
the  circumstance,  and  inquired  if  he  thought  he  had 
no  plate,  as  his  plate  was  a  short  distance  from  him. 
He  immediately  drew  back  from  the  table  in  anger, 
saying  the  sons  were  honoured  and  the  daughters 
blessed  themselves  in  the  Father's  house,  but  the 
Father  did  not  receive  the  honour  that  was  his  due. 
He  then  continued  preaching  with  severity, — more 
particularly  to  Mr.  Pierson, — until  a  late  hour  of 
the  night.  This  was  Monday  ; — the  next  day, 
Tuesday,  Mr.  Pierson  went  into  the  field  to  assist 
in  making  hay, — picking  and  eating  blackberries. 
In  the  afternoon,  at  about  four  o'clock,  while  en- 
gaged in  salting  the  hay,  he  was  taken  with  one  of 
his  fits,  in  the  barn.  Anthony,  a  German  labourer, 
was  with  him  at  the  time,  and  Mr.  Folger's  little  son, 
t«n  years  of  age.     According  to  Matthias's  instruc- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  195 

lions,  no  one  was  allowed  to  touch  him  in  such 
cases  until  he  himself  should  come.  Being  soon 
called  by  the  httle  boy,  he  made  Mr.  Pierson  walk 
to  the  house,  although  he  had  not  as  yet  revived, 
— they  entered  the  house  by  way  of  the  kitchen 
stairs,  and  Mr.  Pierson  was  overtaken  by  another 
fit  before  he  could  be  taken  up  the  stairs,  and 
from  which  he  did  not,  as  usual,  recover  his 
senses.  While  Mrs.  Folger  was  engaged  wash- 
ing his  head  with  cold  water,  he  had  another  very 
hard  fit,  and  after  this  he  began  to  vomit  and  have 
free  evacuations  from  his  bowels,  which  continued 
all  night.  Several  severe  fits  followed  successively 
during  the  night.  Mrs.  Folger  and  Mr.  Pierson's 
daughter  were  with  him  until  a  late  hour,  and  the 
coloured  woman  continued  with  him  all  night.  Mrs. 
Folger  visited  the  room  frequently  during  the  night 
to  see  that  he  was  properly  attended  to. 

"  Matthias  expressed  displeasure  that  Mr.  Pierson 
encouraged  the  sick  spirit,  and  when  Mr.  Pierson 
began  to  vomit,  he  said  he  did  not  know  but  that  he 
should  vomit  himself  if  he  staid  there  a  minute. 
He  then  retired  to  his  room,  and  did  not  see  Mr. 
Pierson  until  after  breakfast  the  next  morning. 

"  On  the  same  evening,  but  some  hours  afterward, 
Catharine  (who  had  also  partaken  of  the  black- 
berries the  day  before)  was  also  taken  ill.  She  had 
severe  pain  in  the  bowels,  and  nausea  at  the 
stomach,  and  was  in  all  respects  affected  in  like 
manner  with  Mr.  Pierson,  excepting  the  absence  of 
fits,  and  the  retention  of  her  senses.  She,  too,  was 
attended  by  Mrs.  Folger  and  the  coloured  woman. 
Matthias,  upon  being  made  acquainted  with  boUi 


196  MATTHIAS    AND 

cases,  on  the  next  (Wednesday)  morning,  was  very 
angry,  and  accused  those  who  nursed  and  attended 
them  of  being  accessary  to  bringing  in  and  harbour- 
ing the  sick  devil  in  the  house  of  God,  and  de- 
nounced many  curses  upon  such,  so  that  they  feared 
they  should  incur  the  curses  every  time  they  offered 
any  service  to  Mr.  Pierson.  When  Mrs.  Folger 
first  visited  Mr.  Pierson,  on  Wednesday  morning, 
she  asked  him  how  he  felt,  and  if  he  was  aware  of 
the  critical  and  trying  night  he  had  passed  through. 
He  was  sensible,  said  he  was  aware  of  having  had 
several  fits,  and  knew  what  had  been  done  for  him. 
Mrs.  Folger  then  asked  him  if  he  would  have  some 
toast-water  ?  he  replied,  7io,  but  some  coffee,  with  a 
look  that  conveyed  to  Mrs.  Folger  the  idea  that  he 
did  not  wish  any  thing  like  medicine,  or  the  nursing 
of  sickness.  On  this  point — that  sickness  was  a 
devil  and  could  be  resisted  and  cast  out — Mr.  Pier- 
son was,  as  he  had  been  for  a  long  time,  very 
decided,  and  those  who  knew  his  peculiar  disposition, 
well  know  that  it  was  of  no  use  to  contend  with 
him.  Mrs.  Folger  took  him  some  coffee,  which  he 
drank,  but  threw  up  immediately,  as  he  did  every 
thing  he  received  into  his  stomach  that  day.  Mrs. 
Folger  placed  a  pitcher  of  toast-water  in  his  room, 
notwithstanding  his  forbidding  look,  just  mentioned, 
that  he  might  take  it  if  he  thought  proper,  or  that 
Matthias  might  give  it  to  him  if  he  saw  fit  to  do  so  ; 
but  it  remained  untouched.  Catharine  took  nothing 
but  toast-water  that  day — rested  and  dieted  for 
several  days,  unobserved  by  Matthias,  and  recovered. 
On  Thursday  Mr.  Pierson  was  up,  walked  out,  and 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  197 

partook  of  the  meals  at  the  table,  prepared  for  the 
family — as  he  did  likewise  on  Friday  and  Saturday, 
but  he  would  occasionally  have  slight  paralytic  at- 
tacks ;  sometimes  at  the  table,  when  Matthias 
would  lead  him  to  his  room  and  close  the  door. 
Mr.  Pierson  seemed  to  think  this  all  right.  He  did 
not  appear  to  lose  his  senses.  If  he  was  spoken  to 
durmg  these  three  days,  his  attempts  to  speak  in 
reply  would  produce  a  slight  convulsive  attack — 
whereupon  Matthias  would  harshly  censure  the  per- 
son speaking,  for  bringing  the  evil  spirit  upon  him. 
The  consequence  was,  that  all  feared  to  speak  or 
offer  service.  As  Mr.  Pierson  was  stronger  in  the 
faith,  and  deeper  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
kingdom  than  others,  he  required  as  strict  obedience 
to  the  doctrines  as  Matthias  did,  and  it  was  under- 
stood as  his  wish  that  directions  for  any  thing  must 
come  from  Matthias  only.  On  Saturday  evening, 
Mrs.  Folger  was  in  the  kitchen,  engaged  in  washing 
the  children.  The  coloured  woman  was  likewise 
there,  engaged  in  baking.  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Pierson's 
daughter,  came  there  with  a  request  to  the  coloured 
woman  to  go  up  and  wash  her  father's  feet ;  the 
coloured  woman  remarked  that  she  was  busy  and 
could  not  leave.  Mrs.  Folger  asked  Elizabeth  if 
she  could  not  wash  her  father's  feet  if  Isabella  (the 
coloured  woman)  took  up  the  water?  she  replied, 
yes,  but  that  her  father  wished  to  speak  to  Isabella ; 
the  latter  then  said,  she  supposed  she  must  go,  but 
that  her  work  required  her  attention..  Mrs.  Folger 
inquired  of  Elizabeth  if  Mr.  Matthias  was  with  her 
father,  and  learned  from  her  that  he  was.  Mrs. 
R2 


198 


MATTHIAS    AND 


Folger  then  directed  the  coloured  woman  to  take  up 
the  water,  and  ask  Mr.  Matthias  and  Mr.  Pierson 
if  she  could  be  excused,  but  she  did  not  return. 
When  Mrs.  Folger  had  finished  her  duties  in  the 
kitchen,  which  had  detained  her  some  time  after  the 
children  had  retired,  she  came  up  and  seated  herself 
at  a  window  in  the  hall. 


South  Wing.   |  North  Wing, 

door.        Back        door.      door. 
Mr.  P.'s  Room 

Parlour. 


Nov -York  Road. 


As  she  passed  the  parlour  door,  immediately  oppo- 
site the  door  of  the  south  wing,  which  Mr.  Pierson 
occupied,  she  observed  Mr.  Pierson,  Mr.  Matthias, 
and  the  coloured  woman  in  conversation.  Mr. 
Matthias  soon  afterv>'ard  came  into  the  hall,  and 
continued  pacing  it  until  the  coloured  woman  came 
out,  and,  when  half-way  between  the  parlour  door 
and  kitchen  stairway,  Mr.  Matthias  and  the  coloured 
woman  stopped  and  conversed  in  a  low  whisper  for 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  199 

about  half-an-hour.  Matthias  then  pointed  to  Mrs. 
Folger  and  motioned  to  her — she  did  not  know 
what  he  meant,  but  concluded  they  wished  her  to  go 
away,  and  she  went  into  the  north  wing  ;  but  as  she 
was  not  sure  this  was  the  case,  and  not  suspecting 
any  cause  for  it,  she  returned  and  resumed  her  seat 
in  the  hall — they  then  separated  a  few  steps,  but  he 
quickly  stepped  to  the  kitchen  stairway  and  resumed 
his  conversation  with  the  coloured  woman,  in  the 
same  low  whisper,  and  continued  it  for  some  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes,  when  they  separated,  and  the  coloured 
woman  went  to  the  kitchen,  and  Mr.  Matthias  to 
Mr.  Pierson's  room.  Mrs.  Folger  asked  him,  as 
he  passed  her,  for  what  he  had  motioned  to  her  with 
his  hand ;  he  replied,  to  take  away  the  candle. 
Mrs.  Folger  then  went  to  the  kitchen  to  assist  the 
coloured  woman  with  her  work.  She  asked  the  latter 
what  Mr.  Pierson  wished  to  see  her  about,  and  she 
replied,  that  he  wanted  to  ask  her  to  forgive  him. 
It  seems  that  Mr.  Pierson  and  Isabella  had  had 
some  dispute,  and  had  incurred  each  other's  dis- 
pleasure, previous  to  this,  while  Mrs.  Folger  was  at 
New- York.  Mrs,  Folger  said  to  her,  *  You  forgive 
him!  what  has  he  ever  done  to  you  to  have  occa- 
sion to  ask  forgiveness  V  She  replied,  '  Enough,' 
but  was  not  disposed  to  say  any  more.  Mrs. 
Folger  then  asked  her  if  that  was  what  she  and  Mr. 
Matthias  were  conversing  about  so  privately,  to 
which  she  replied,  '  Yes  !'  No  more  was  thought 
of  this  circumstance  until  after  the  arrest  of  Mat- 
thias. 

"On  Sunday  Mr.  Pierson  kept  his  bed.     His 


200  MATTHIAS    AND 

fits  increased  in  number  and  violence.  Matthias 
preached  in  the  parlour,  opposite  Mr.  Pierson's 
room,  to  all  the  family  for  several  hours — the  door 
of  Mr.  Pierson's  room  was  open  until  he  had  a  fit, 
when  the  coloured  woman,  who  sat  near  the  door, 
was  directed  by  Matthias  to  shut  it  until  the  fit 
passed  off",  which  she  knew  by  the  singular  noise  he 
made,  and  when  it  did  she  would  open  it  again,  and 
keep  it  open  until  the  occurrence  of  another  fit.  In 
the  latter  part  of  this  day,  Sunday,  Mrs.  Folger  ven- 
tured to  ask  Mr.  Pierson  to  show  her  his  tongue, 
which  he  did.  She  said  to  him  that  it  was  thickly 
coated,  and  that  he  needed,  as  she  thought,  evacua- 
tions from  his  bowels, — asking  him  if  he  did  not 
think  so  himself.  He  made  no  reply,  as  was  usual 
with  him,  if  he  felt  himself  dictated  to  by  a  person 
not  having  authority.  Matthias  was  not  present, 
but  Mrs.  Folger  is  not  certain  whether  Mr.  Pier- 
son's daughter  was  or  not.  She  was  permitted  to 
be  with  her  father  as  much  as  she  pleased,  without 
blame  ;  but  all  others  were  exposed  to  censure  for 
visiting  him.  Much  of  this  censure  fell  upon  Mrs. 
Folger  (who  had  suffered  greatly  from  ill  health  her- 
self), as  she  would  visit  his  room  to  wash  his  hands 
and  face  with  cold  water,  and  would  often  call  the 
coloured  woman  to  change  his  position,  as  she  was 
a  strong  and  able  person,  and  was  always  willing  to 
do  it. 

"  Matthias  and  the  coloured  woman  spent  this 
evening  in  conversation  respecting  his  eldest  son, 
who  had  clandestinely  left  Singsing  while  his  father 
was  at  New- York.     ]Mr.  Pierson  had  previously 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  201 

told  Mr.  Matthias  the  particulars  of  his  going,  in 
which  matter  the  coloured  woman  was  shown  to 
have  been  in  fault ;  but  the  latter  now  made  her 
statement.  It  appeared  that  Isabella  had  stewed 
some  cherries,  which  the  boy  had  stolen  and  eaten. 
She  acquainted  Mr.  Pierson  with  the  circumstance, 
who  scolded  the  boy,  and  threatened  to  inform  his 
father — whereupon  the  lad  ran  away.  Matthias 
expressed  much  displeasure  towards  Mr.  Pierson 
for  an  accusation  of  theft  against  his  son,  in  his 
father's  house — asserting  that  it  was  out  of  the 
question  for  a  son  to  steal  any  thing  belonging  to 
his  father.  This  conversation  was  so  loud  that  Mr. 
Pierson  could  have  heard  it ;  but  Mrs.  FoJger  heard 
no  more  of  the  subject. 

The  next  morning,  Monday,  Mrs.  Folger  visited 
Mr.  Pierson's  room,  and  found  him  still  worse. 
She  requested  his  daughter  to  rub  his  limbs  with  a 
clothes  brush,  which  she  did.  Mr.  Pierson  then 
asked  Mrs.  Folger  if  she  would  be  willing  to  give 
him  an  enema ;  she  replied,  yes,  that  she  could  do 
that  and  administer  several  other  remedies  which 
would  promote  his  recovery,  if  she  was  allowed. 
Seeing  Mr.  Matthias  advancing  to  the  room,  she 
said  to  Mr.  Pierson,  ask  him,  and  then  left  the  room. 
She  did  so,  apprehending  that  Mr.  P.  would  be  less 
urgent  in  her  presence,  as  they  were  acquainted 
with  her  views  with  regard  to  sickness  and  its  re- 
medies, which  exposed  her  to  their  mutual  cen- 
sure whenever  advanced.  Mrs.  Folger  occupied 
herself  in  the  duties  of  the  house,  expecting  direc- 
tions from  Mr.  Matthias  or  Mr.  Pierson ;  but  none 


202  MATTHIAS    AND 

came,  nor  does  she  know  what  passed  between 
them.  She  again  went  to  his  room  towards  the 
middle  of  the  day,  when  Mr.  Pierson  immediately 
began  to  speak  of  his  exercises  in  relation  to  re- 
ceiving his  father's  spirit,  who  had  been  subject  to 
similar  fits  as  those  he  was  afflicted  with.  While 
he  was  speaking  Matthias  came  in  and  continued 
the  conversation  with  Mr.  Pierson,  and  Mrs.  Fol- 
ger  retired.  At  noon  she  visited  his  room  again. 
He  was  asleep,  but  restless.  She  visited  his  apart* 
ment  frequently  that  afternoon,  and  he  continued  to 
sleep.  While  the  family  went  to  supper  or  tea,  they 
heard  a  noise  as  though  Mr.  Pierson  had  fallen. 
Catharine  and  Mrs.  Folger  started  to  go  to  him, 
but  Matthias  forbade  them,  and  spent  some  time  in 
lecturing  them  for  keeping  this  sick  spirit  in  the 
house.  When  Matthias  dismissed  the  table  he  went 
to  Mr.  Pierson's  room  ;  Mrs.  Folger  followed  him. 
Mr.  Pierson  was  lying  on  the  floor,  with  his  feet 
towards  the  bed,  as  though  he  had  risen  from  bed, 
and  then  fallen.  He  was  then  apparently  asleep. 
Mrs.  Folger  asked  Matthias  if  he  should  be  lifted 
on  his  bed.  He  replied,  no — that  he  seemed  to 
have  a  spirit  that  liked  the  floor  better.  Matthias 
then  walked  for  a  while  in  the  yard,  and  on  coming 
in,  seated  himself  in  the  parlour  and  read  the  news- 
papers. Mrs.  Folger  remained  with  Mr.  Pierson 
to  watch  him,  while  his  daughter,  who  had  been 
with  him  most  of  the  day,  walked  in  the  yard  with 
the  rest  of  the  children.  Mrs.  Folger  again  asked 
Matthias  if  Mr.  Pierson  might  not  be  placed  upon 
his  bed  ;  he  made  no  reply  for  some  minutes,  and 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  203 

then  said,  we  could  put  his  straw  bed  on  the  floor, 
and  lay  him  on  that ;  but  not  to  bring  his  mattress 
out  of  the  room,  as  it  was  defiled,  and  he  did  not 
know  but  that  every  thing  in  the  room  would  have 
to  be  burned.  Mrs.  Folger  called  the  coloured 
woman  to  make  his  bed  upon  the  floor.  She  like- 
wise called  Catharine  to  assist,  but  she  refused. 
Mr.  Pierson  was  then  laid  upon  the  bed,  and  left  to 
sleep  for  the  night.  His  breakfast  on  this  (Monday) 
morning,  consisting  of  coffee,  bread,  and  shad,  was 
taken  to  him  by  Matthias,  and  was  the  last  meal  he 
ever  ate. 

"  The  next  morning,  Tuesday,  August  5th,  he 
was  insensible,  his  eyes  closed,  but  his  mouth  open. 
Mrs.  Folger  asked  Matthias  if  any  thing  should  be 
done  for  Mr.  Pierson.  He  said,  no  ;  that  he  (Mat- 
thias) was  attending  to  his  own  business,  and  watch- 
ing Mr.  Pierson's  spirit. 

"  Mrs.  Folger  asked  if  she  might  give  him  drink, 
or  wet  his  lips,  as  they  appeared  dry  ;  he  said,  no — 
he  did  not  need  any.  Mrs.  Folger  visited  his  room 
frequently  to  drive  the  flies  from  him,  and  anxiously 
watched  for  the  return  of  his  senses. 

"  This  morning,  after  the  arrival  of  the  steam- 
boat from  New  York,  a  Jewess,  whom  Mr.  Pierson 
had  previously  assisted,  came  from  town  to  ask  for 
his  aid.  Mr.  Matthias,  who  had  likewise  become 
acquainted  with  her,  and  her  mother  and  sister, 
through  Mr.  Pierson,  received,  and  spent  much  of 
the  day  and  evening  in  conversing  with  her.  She 
asked  to  see  Mr.  Pierson,  and  was  told  she  should, 
but  he  continued  his  conversation  without  showing 


204  MATTHIAS    AND 

her  the  way.  "When  Mrs.  Folger  heard  her  express 
ihe  desire  the  second  time,  she  arose  from  her  seat 
and  asked  if  the  lady  could  then  see  Mr.  Pierson. 
Matthias  took  no  notice  of  the  inquiry,  but  contin- 
ued his  conversation  with  Mrs.  Dratch,  the  person 
referred  to.  Mrs.  Folger  was  very  little  with  Mr. 
Matthias  and  Mrs.  Dratch,  as  she  was  much  occu- 
pied with  her  family  duties  and  frequently  visiting 
Mr.  Pierson's  room.  Not  being  well  herself,  her 
cares  were  numerous  ;  and  having  very  little  rest  at 
night,  from  her  anxiety  for  Mr.  Pierson,  which  was 
increased  by  the  singular  noise  made  by  him  most 
of  the  time,  she  became  greatly  exhausted.  In  the 
after  part  of  the  day,  Mr.  Matthias  told  Mrs. 
Dratch  that  she  should  see  Mr.  Pierson  after  he 
had  had  a  warm  bath  which  he  had  ordered.  This 
was  the  first  intimation  to  Mrs.  Folger  that  he  in- 
tended to  give  one,  and  she  went  immediately  to 
see  that  it  was  prepared  ;  and  while  he  was  in  it, 
assisted  in  making  his  bed,  &c.  He  was  put  in 
the  bath  by  the  German  labourer  and  the  coloured 
woman,  and  while  there,  the  coloured  woman  per- 
ceiving a  fit  coming  upon  him,  slapped  him  in  the 
face,  saying,  "  Come  out  of  your  hellish  sleep !" 
which  Mrs.  Folger  observed  in  silence,  thinking  it 
might  be  the  proper  way  of  resisting  the  sick  spirit, 
and  preventing  its  visiting  the  woman,  but  felt  that 
she  could  not  have  done  it  herself  His  daughter 
and  Catharine  were  in  the  room  at  the  same  time, 
Mr.  Pierson  continued  insensible  ;  contrary  to  Mrs. 
Folger's  expectations,  the  bath  appeared  to  produce 
no  change  in  his  symptoms.     As  soon  as  he  was 


HIS    IMTOSTURES,  205 

again  placed  upon  his  couch,  she  informed  Mr. 
Matthias  of  the  fact.  He  was  conversing  with 
Mrs.  Dratch  upon  the  piazza,  made  no  reply,  but 
continued  his  conversation,  and  Mrs.  D.  continued 
to  hsten.  In  the  evening  they  sat  in  conversation 
in  the  parlour.  Mrs.  D.  retired  about  nine  (»'clock, 
previously  offering  to  sit  up  with  Mr.  Pierson  if  it 
was  necessary ;  but  Matthias  said  it  was  not,  that 
he  did  not  allow  it.  Mrs.  Folger  then  called  up 
the  coloured  woman,  saying  also  to  Mr.  Matthias 
that  she  felt  very  uneasy  about  Mr.  Pierson,  espe- 
cially as  no  drink  was  given  him.  Matthias  then 
directed  the  coloured  woman  to  bring  some  water, 
which  direction  she  obeyed.  He  asked  for  a  pint 
pitcher,  directed  the  coloured  woman  to  hold  the 
cloth  by  the  sides  of  Mr.  Pierson's  mouth,  to 
catch  the  water  as  it  escaped  from  it,  and  Matthias 
then  poured  the  water  from  the  pitcher,  some  four 
or  five  feet  above  him.  This  operation  caused  a 
shocking  noise  or  gurgling  in  the  throat,  which  Mrs. 
Folger  could  not  remain  to  hear,  and  hastened  from 
the  sound.  When  she  returned,  this  noise  had 
ceased,  and  Matthias  had  ceased  to  give  him  drink. 
Mr.  Pierson  had  fits  now  in  rapid  succession,  and 
the  peculiar  noise  he  made  could  be  heard  in  every 
part  of  the  house.  The  coloured  woman  inquired 
if  she  should  remain  with  Mr,  Pierson,  but  Mat- 
thias said,  no,  and  directed  her  to  go  to  bed,  and 
retired  himself.  Mrs.  Folger  and  the  coloured 
woman  sat  up  with  him,  however,  until  12  o'clock, 
when  Mrs.  Folger  laid  herself  down,  only  to  rest, 
feeling  that  her  health  required  it ;  but  she  did  not 
S 


206  MATTHIAS    AND 

sleep — constantly  hearing  Mr.  Pierson  until  after 
one  o'clock.  Not  long  after  the  peculiar  noise 
from  Mr.  Pierson  ceased,  she  heard  Matthias  go 
to  his  room.  Following  thither  herself,  she  met 
him  coming  from  it.  The  moment  Matthias  saw 
Mrs.  Folger,  he  said  Mr.  Pierson  was  dead.  Mrs. 
Folger  was  struck  with  surprise,  and  asked  him 
how  he  felt,  or  what  he  thought — she  does  not 
know  which  ; — he  replied,  don't  ask  me  now,  and 
retired  to  his  room.  Mrs.  Folger  slept  in  the  room 
with  Mr.  Pierson's  daughter  and  her  own  children. 
She  told  his  daughter  early  in  the  morning  that  her 
father  was  dead.  The  event  was  unexpected  to  her, 
as  it  had  been  to  Mrs.  Folger,  since  we  were  all 
led  to  believe,  as  we  had  been  taught,  that  death 
would  not  be  allowed  to  make  a  prey  of  one  of  us, 
but  that  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  was  given  us,  would 
enable  us  to  conquer  the  last  enemy.  "When  Mrs. 
Folger  arose  in  the  morning,  Wednesday,  6th  Au- 
gust, she  found  Mrs.  Dratch  in  the  parlour  with 
Matthias,  who  was  explaining  to  her  why  Mr.  Pier- 
son must  die,  or  go  down  as  John  the  Baptist,  and 
that  Mr.  Pierson  had  committed  some  sin  unto 
death,  which  would  not  suffer  that  body  to  enter  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  but  much  of  his  spirit  was 
valuable,  which  was  all  then  with  him,  Matthias, 
who  would  give  him  another  body.  Mrs.  Dratch 
returned  to  New  York  that  afternoon.  Just  pre- 
vious to  her  departure,  Mr.  Matthias  gave  her  mo- 
ney ;  from  which  circumstance  it  is  inferred  that  she 
informed  Matthias  as  to  the  object  of  her  visit  to 
Mount  Pleasant  and  to  Mr.  Pierson.     It  should  be 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  207 

mentioned  here  that  Mrs.  Dratch  is  a  widow  lady, 
who  has  a  very  aged  mother  dependent  upon  her 
efforts  with  those  of  her  sister,  with  the  needle,  for 
support, — that  they  have,  at  times,  found  it  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  get  along,  and  have  been  assisted 
by  Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger. 

"  At  Mrs.  Folger's  request,  upon  Mrs.  Dratch's 
arrival  in  New- York,  she  immediately  called  at 
Mr.  Folger's  office,  who  was  expected  to  return  to 
New-York  on  that  day  from  a  journey  to  the  north, 
upon  which  he  had  been  absent  some  nine  or  ten 
days — met  him  there,  and  communicated  the  news 
of  Mr.  Pierson's  death.  Mr.  Folger  was  as  much 
surprised  at  the  event  as  had  been  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family.  He  immediately  waited  upon 
such  of  the  relatives  of  Mr.  Pierson  as  he  could  re- 
collect, and  at  their  request,  made  arrangements  for 
the  removal  of  the  body  to  New-Jersey.  He  had 
a  sealed  coffin  prepared^ — the  weather  beings  very 
warm — engaged  a  hearse,  and  with  a  coach,  accom- 
panied by  two  female  relatives  of  Mr.  Pierson,  went 
to  Mount  Pleasant  early  the  next  day.  He  like- 
Wise  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Mahlon  Pierson,  near 
Bottle  Hill,  N.  J.,  acquainting  him  with  the  death 
of  his  brother,  and  all  the  particulars  then  within 
his  knowledge  (not  having  been  at  Mount  Pleasant 
at  any  time  during  his  sickness),  and  despatched  a 
messenger  with  the  communication  to  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Pierson. 

"  On  the  day  of  Mr.  Pierson's  death,  Mrs. 
Dratch,  on  her  way  to  the  steamboat,  promulgated 
Ihe  report  in  the  village  of  Singsing  that  Mr.  Pierson 


203  MATTHIAS    AND 

had  been  found  dead  in  his  bed.  A  coroner's  in- 
quest was  held  on  the  body  that  afternoon  :  Mrs. 
Folger  was  the  fifth  person  examined.  Siie  in- 
formed them  that  her  husband  was  absent,  and,  as 
she  was  ignorant  of  legal  matters,  wished  to  know 
if  they  had  a  right  to  proceed  as  they  were  doing  ; — 
they  replied  that  their  proceedings  were  all  legal. 
She  then  detailed  to  them  all  the  particulars  of  Mr. 
Pierson's  sickness  and  death ;  she  said  she  did  not 
consider  this  event  as  they  did,  a  visitation  of  Provi- 
dence, but  that  the  devil,  death,  had  robbed  us  of 
the  bodij  of  Mr.  Pierson,  while  his  spirit  was  as 
much  with  us  as  ever.  They  asked  if  Mr.  Pierson 
had  had  medicine  given  him ; — she  replied  no, — 
that  they  considered  medicine  an  evil, — that  Mr. 
Pierson  would  not  have  taken  any  while  he  had  his 
senses,  and  violence  had  not  been  done  to  his  often 
expressed  sentiments  on  this  point,  after  he  had  lost 
his  senses.  They  inquired  if  Mrs.  Folger  would 
not  employ  a  physician  if  she  was  herself  sick  ; — 
she  said  no, — that  she  had  already  passed  through 
the  hands  of  so  many  that  she  feared  her  body  might 
yet  be  rejected  from  entering  the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 
They  asked  several  questions  relative  to  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  property  and  business  with  Mr.  Folger ; — she 
replied  that  she  knew  no  particulars  respecting  it, — 
referred  them  to  her  husband,  whom  she  believed  to 
be  a  correct  business  man,  and  that  they  might  rest 
assured  he  would  render  a  true  and  accurate  state- 
ment of  all  his  transactions  with  Mr.  Pierson, — that 
she  knew  from  their  conversations  that  they  had 
confidence  in  each  other,  and  were  partners  in  some 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  209 

kind  of  business  ;  and,  in  conclusion,  said  if  they  had 
any  more  inquiries  to  make  she  would  like  to  hear 
them.  She  then  mentioned  that  there  were  some 
marks  on  the  skin  of  Mr.  Pierson,  which  were  oc- 
casioned by  his  knocking  his  feet  together  while  in 
the  fits,  but  if  they  found  any  marks  of  violence  on 
his  body,  or  were  not  satisfied,  they  would  oblige 
her  by  letting  her  know  it.  Mrs.  Folger  then  left 
the  room,  and  supposed  they  examined  the  body. 
Matthias  was  very  quiet  during  this  time  :  he  had 
sent  for  one  of  the  neighbours,  Mr.  Bishop — the 
only  man  he  respected  in  the  neighbourhood,  ex- 
cept Judge  Keymes — and  requested  him  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  burial.  Mr.  Bishop  purchased 
a  coffin  and  had  a  grave  dug  in  the  burying-ground 
in  the  neighbourhood.  The  body  was  to  have  been 
buried  there  on  the  next  day  (Thursday)  at  noon  ; 
but  the  arrival  of  Mr,  Folger  from  New-York,  with 
the  two  female  relatives  of  Mr.  Pierson,  and 
preparations  for  the  removal  of  the  body  to  New- 
Jersey,  changed  the  arrangement.  Mr.  Folger  ac- 
companied the  corpse  to  New-York,  and,  as  circum- 
stances prevented  his  visiting  the  state  of  New- Jer- 
sey, he  wrote  a  line  to  Mr.  Mahlon  Pierson,  stating 
^those  circumstances,  and  engaged  an  acquaintance 
to  go  in  charge  of  the  hearse  and  carriage,  accom- 
panied by  the  two  females  before  mentioned.  They 
proceeded  that  night,  and  in  the  course  of  it,  reached 
Mr.  Mahlon  Pierson's  residence. 

"  Matthias  wished  to  leave  Mount  Pleasant  and 
go  to  New-York  in  his  carriage  on  the  same  after- 
noon, an  hour  or  two  after  Mr.  Folger  had  left  with 
S2 


210  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  corpse,  but  did  not  leave  until  the  next  morning, 
when  he  took  his  departure  with  Lewis  the  coach- 
man. He  wished  Mrs.  Folger  to  ride  down  in  the 
carriage  with  him,  but  she  replied  that  her  health 
would  not  allow  her  to  incur  the  fatigue,  and,  more- 
over, that  she  wished  to  remain  with  her  children. 
Being  reminded,  however,  that  Mr.  Folger  had 
said,  just  as  he  left,  that  he  should  expect  her  down 
the  next  day,  she  made  arrangements  for  departu  > , 
and  went  down  in  the  steamboat  that  afternoon,  ac- 
companied by  the  coloured  woman. 

"  Mr.  Folger  expressed  his  great  surprise  at  the 
death  of  Mr.  Pierson  to  Matthias,  who  said  to  him 
in  reply,  that  he  should  serve  all  his  enemies  in  like 
manner, — that  as  soon  as  he  found  that  his  (Mat- 
thias's) spirit  had  rejected  the  body  of  Mr.  Pierson, 
he  had  gone  into  his  own  room  and  made  a  sign  as 
simple  as  to  turn  the  spoke  of  a  chair — this  is  the 
precise  expression  of  Matthias — which  never  failed, 
and  referred  to  Ezekiel's  signs  for  the  certainty  of 
it.  He  informed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  that  they 
should  be  dealt  with  in  like  manner  if  they  opposed 
him,  or  proved  treacherous  to  him,  declaring  again 
that  he  possessed  the  power  to  do  it,  and  they  still 
feared  that  he  did. 

"  Matthias  now  continually  advanced  new  ideas, 
preaching  whenever  opportunity  offered, — but  in  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Pierson,  who  was,  so  \q  speak  (and 
was  so  called),  the  second  witness  for  truth,  it  was 
more  difficult  for  him  to  convince  ]Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger  of  his  new  doctrines,  the  more  especially  as 
it  appeared  about  this  time  that  he  could  not  over- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  211 

come  the  legal  proceedings  instituted  by  the  attor- 
neys of  the  estate  of  Mr.  Pierson.  In  a  conversa- 
tion with  Matthias  in  the  same  month  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  death,  Mr.  Folger  told  him  what  the  laws  were, 
and  suggested  his  surrendering  the  title  to  any  pro- 
perty he  possessed  of  Mr.  Pierson's.  He  at  first 
rejected  it,  but  afterward  said  he  would  not  contend 
with  them  under  such  circumstances  :  that  of  course 
he  could  not  have  justice  in  a  gentile  court.  Upon 
this,  supposing  all  would  be  done,  Mr.  Folger  invited 

Mr.  B. and  Mr.  C ,  two  relatives  of  Mr. 

Pierson,  to  arrived  to  Third-street  and  have  an  inter- 
view with  Matthias.  When  they  came,  he  seated  him- 
self in  a  large  rocking-chair  in  the  middle  of  th« 
floor,  and  instead  of  entering  upon  the  business 
upon  which  they  came,  he  immediately  commenced 
preaching  to  them,  censuring  the  Christian  religion, 
and  going  on  in  his  usual  manner,  engrossing  al- 
most exclusively  the  conversation  ;  but  occasionally 
those  gentlemen  would  interpose  a  few  words  of  re- 
ply, and  both  discovered  a  knowledge  and  an  ability 
to  defend  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  The  pa- 
tience of  the  former  held  out  the  longest,  but  at 
length  his  was  exhausted.  When  at  last  they  asked 
him  the  surrender  of  the  property  in  question,  to 
the  surprise  of  Mr.  Folger,  he  declined,  and  said 
he  would  test  the  strength  of  the  gentile  laws.  Mr. 
Folger  was  quiet  until  they  had  gone,  when  he  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  that  he  had  not  done  as  Mr.  Fol- 
ger had  understood  him  he  would.  He  replied  that 
the  spirit  had  told  him  that  he  must  not,  at  all  haz- 
ards, surrender  to  the  devil  the  property  of  God. 


212  MATTHIAS    AND 

"  Mr.  Folg€r  had  frequently  before  this  told  him 
of  the  increasing  difficulties  of  his  business  ;  he  now 
informed  him  that  he  should  be  obliged  to  remove 
his  family  into  more  limited  quarters,  and  reduce  his 
expenses.  As  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  however,  still 
believed  him  to  be  a  good  man,  the  former  told  him 
of  his  having  in  his  possession  the  sum  of  about 
eight  hundred  dollars,  received  from  the  estate  of 
his  wife,  which  he  regarded  as  distinctly  his  own, 
and  that  if  he  required  it,  he  would  give  him  a  part 
of  it.  Mrs.  Folger  was  present  at  this  conversa- 
tion, closely  observed  his  countenance,  and  for  the 
first  time  discovered  alarm  depicted  on  it,  which  she 
immediately  spoke  of,  but  he  denied  that  it  was  so. 
He  spent  much  time  in  arguing  and  in  trying  to  dis- 
suade Mr.  Folger  from  his  purpose,  who  was,  he 
said,  in  a  lost  condition.  In  this  unsettled  situation 
we  remained  some  time.  Mr.  Folger  was  con- 
stantly urging  Matthias  to  leave,  and  he  refusing  to 
go,  saying  he  would  not  until  all  his  arguments  had 
failed,  and  he  was  forced  to  quit.  He  told  his  chil- 
dren they  were  at  liberty  to  do  as  they  pleased,  of 
which  permission  they  readily  took  advantage  and 
acted  accordingly — venting  upon  Mrs.  Folger,  her 
children,  and  the  rest  of  the  family  their  rage,  during 
the  day,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Folger  upon  his  bus- 
iness. She  bore  it  in  silence,  however,  not  yet 
knowing  but  that  he  was  all  that  he  represented  him- 
self to  be  ^  for  their  belief  in  him  had  been  sincere, 
and  was  strongly  established.  The  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily, exclusive  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  and  their 
children,  manifested  stronger  faith  in  him  than  ever. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES,  213 

At  length,  while  Mr.  Folger  was  abroad,  he  began 
to  charge  Mrs.  Folger  as  being  responsible  for 
breaking  up  "  the  kingdom."  She  would  then  tell 
the  family,  in  his  presence,  what  the  circumstances 
were,  but  to  little  or  no  purpose,  for  as  soon  as  her 
back  was  turned,  he  would  say  so  much  to  the  con- 
trary, as  to  recall  them  to  believe  in  his  statements  ; 
and  they  no  doubt  were  aware  that  it  might  be  some 
time  before  they  would  be  able  to  find  another  so 
independent  and  well-provided  a  home. 

"  Mr.  Folger  at  this  time  was  much  occupied 
and  tried  in  his  mind  with  business  perplexities,  and 
finding  llim  still  decided  in  his  determination  to  sep- 
arate, Mrs.  Folger  forbore  to  mention  to  him  her 
trials  in  his  absence  from  the  house,  being  sustained 
by  the  hope  of  a  speedy  deliverance  from  ihem. 
But  Matthias  at  last  ascertaining  that  Mr.  Folger 
was  not  to  be  wrought  upon  farther  by  him,  at- 
tempted to  terrify  Mrs.  Folger  into  a  farther  belief 
of  his  doctrines.  She,  however,  told  him  that  she 
had  not  faith,  and  therefore  could  not  exercise  it. 
He  asked,  if  it  was  then  her  determination  to  pur- 
sue the  course  her  husband  had  proposed  ;  if  it  was, 
he  added,  he  had  made  the  same  sign  for  her  he  had 
made  for  Mr.  Pierson,  which  would  not  fail.  She 
said,  firmly,  it  was.  He  then  said,  at  the  height  of 
his  voice,  which  was,  on  the  whole,  almost  deafen- 
ing, stamping  at  the  same  time  violently  with  his  feet, 
she  should  be  D-A-M-N-E-D  !  Mrs.  Folger  was 
much  alarmed,  and  feared  that  the  earth  would  open 
and  swallow  her  up,  or  something  worse.  She  was 
then  quite  unwell  and  wearied,  and  did  not  feel  sure. 


214  MATTHIAS     AND 

for  a  time,  but  that  some  of  his  curses  had  taken 
effect.  But  finding  that  she  outlived  one  curse,  she 
felt  encouraged  to  urge  her  husband,  when  he  came 
home  in  the  evening,  to  be  more  prompt  in  effecting 
the  dismissal  of  Matthias  ;  and  on  the  following 
morning  she  proposed  that  he  should  leave  her  up- 
stairs, and  say  to  Matthias  distinctly  that  he  should 
have  no  more  opportunity  of  preaching  to  her,  and 
insist  upon  his  leaving  that  day.  This  was  done, 
and  he  promised  to  go,  but  requested  that  the  family 
might  dine  together  once  more.  Mr.  Folger  took 
Mrs.  Folger's  breakfast  up  to  her  room,  and  she 
drank  freely  of  the  coffee.  She  then  asked  to  have 
her  little  daughter,  about  six  years  old,  sent  up  to 
her.  When  the  child  came  up-stairs,  she  said, 
"  Mother,  Mr.  Matthias  said  that  was  not  the  Lord's 
table  they  ate  at  this  morning,  but  the  devil's,"  and 
that  Mr.  Matthias  did  not  eat  any  breakfast.  The 
child  likewise  said  that  the  coffee  was  not  good, 
and  that  she  could  not  drink  it. 

"  Mr.  Folger,  being  much  occupied  that  morning 
in  delivering  the  articles  of  furniture  belonging  to 
the  estate  of  Mr.  Pierson,  which  was  to  be  sold  at 
auction,  sent  for  Mrs.  Folger,  as  he  needed  her  as- 
sistance. Meeting  her  little  son,  about  ten  years 
of  age,  as  she  descended  the  stairs,  he  said  to  her, 
"  Mother,  the  coffee  was  so  bad  this  morning  I  could 
hardly  drink  it."  She  merely  replied  to  him,  being 
busy,  "  Why  did  you  drink  it  then  ]"  and  the  circum- 
stance escaped  her  mind,  as  did  the  other  complaint 
from  the  little  girl. 

**  Matthias  seized  an  opportunity,  while  Mr.  Fol- 


HIS    13IP0STURES.  215 

ger  was  ifi  another  part  of  the  house  delivering  fur- 
niture, to  renew  his  threats  upon  Mrs.  Folger.  He 
was  then  seated  in  the  kitchen,  preaching  to  Cath- 
arine and  the  coloured  woman.  Mrs.  Folger  was 
engaged  down-stairs,  and  continued  to  be  until  din- 
ner was  ready.  Matthias  did  not  eat  any  dinner, 
but  wept  while  the  rest  were  eating — intending  per- 
haps to  try  the  force  of  tears,  for  he  did  shed  real 
tears.  Mrs.  Folger  did  not  observe  the  coloured 
\i^oman  at  that  time,  but  has  at  other  times,  that  she 
did  not  eat  when  JVIatthias  abstained.  Mrs.  Folger 
retired  to  her  room  after  dinner,  with  her  children. 
It  rained  that  afternoon,  and  Matthias  pleaded  that 
circumstance  as  an  excuse  to  Mr.  Folger  that  he 
did  not  depart.  At  supper-time  Matthias  seated 
himself  at  the  table,  but  did  not  partake.  He  re- 
marked that  he  began  to  realize  his  situation,  and 
commenced  pronouncing  woes  upon  those  who  had 
caused  it.  Mr.  Folger  forbade  his  preaching  any 
more  to  his  family,  and  he  was  silenced  for  the  time. 
"  Mr.  Folger  asked  him  if  he  should  send  his 
sons  to  their  mother  in  Albany  ;  Matthias  replied  he 
would  as  soon  send  them  to  hell, — but  in  the  same 
breath  said  he  wished  he  would.  On  a  second  re- 
flection, however,  it  seemed  to  be  his  design  to  keep 
house  somewhere  in  New- York.  He  packed  up 
their  clothes  with  his,  and  said  he  should  take  them 
with  him.  Mr.  Folger  soon  after  this  recollected 
that  he  had  promised  their  mother,  that  if  they  were 
to  leave  his  family,  he  would  send  them  to  her.  He 
accordingly  told  Matthias  of  it  and  that  it  imist  be 
done;  and  within  three  days,  eifter  having  things 


216  MATTHIAS    AND 

properly  prepared,  Mr.  Folger  committed  them  to 
the  care  of  the  captain  of  a  steamboat,  paid  their 
expenses  to  Albany^  and  sent  them  home. 

"  Immediately  after  supper,  on  the  last  night  Mat- 
thias was  in  the  house,  he  went  to  bed.  Mr.  Folger 
had  an  errand  out  on  business,  and  went  to  attend 
to  it.  Mrs.  Folger,  with  Catharine,  retired  to  her 
room,  but  having  occasion  to  go  to  the  kitchen  after 
a  while,  Matthias  was  found  there  with  the  coloured 
woman.  Catharine  accompanied  Mrs.  Folger  to 
the  kitchen,  whereupon  Matthias  and  the  coloured 
woman  began  to  persuade  her  to  join  them  in  keep- 
ing house, — and  they  no  doubt  would  have  induced 
Catharine  to  go  with  them,  but  for  the  advice  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger. 

"  During  that  night,  Mrs.  Folger  was  quite  unwell 
and  did  not  sleep.  She  observed  that  Mr.  Folger 
was  very  restless  and  groaned  in  his  sleep.  The 
children,  who  were  in  the  next  room  with  Catharine, 
were  restless  and  wakeful,  and  rather  wild  and  light- 
headed. Catharine  was  also  restless  and  groaned 
in  her  sleep.  Mrs.  Folger  then  remembered  the 
children's  complaint  about  the  coffee,  and  Matthias 
not  eating  when  they  did.  In  consequence  of  this, 
she  told  Catharine  in  the  morning  to  get  breakfast 
separately  for  us, — to  be  sure  she  washed  every 
thing  to  be  used,  and  not  to  use  any  of  the  provisions 
then  in  the  house.  Catharine  then  mentioned  to 
Mrs.  Folger  that  she  had  observed  the  coffee  was 
bad  the  morning  before,  had  a  strange  taste,  and 
had  something  white  in  it ; — that  she  had  asked  the 
coloured  woman  the  cause  of  it,  who  had  replied 


lilS  IMPOSTURES.  217 

that  we  could  not  expect  to  have  good  coffee,  or  any 
blessing,  while  her  father  was  offended.  This 
morning,  Mr.  Folger  went  down,  at  Mrs.  Folger's 
request,  to  see  that  her  instructions -were  obeyed. 
Mr.  Folger  and  family  took  breakfast  in  the  par- 
lour :  Matthias,  the  coloured  woman,  and  Matthias's 
sons,  below  stairs. 

"After  breakfast,  Mr.  Folger  told  Matthias  he 
must  be  off  immediately, — that  he  should  not  leave 
the  house  until  he  had  gone, — that  as  for  his  sons, 
they  should  be  sent  to  their  mother.  Matthias  un- 
dertook again  to  display  some  of  his  lofty  move- 
ments, and  made  some  objections,  but  the  spell  was 
broken,  and  his  day  had  passed.  He  was  soon 
silenced,  upon  being  assured  that  if  there  was  any 
farther  trouble  with  him,  Mr.  Folger  would  step  to 
the  police-office  and  get  assistance.  He  consumed 
all  the  time  he  could  in  getting  his  clothes  together, 
and  asking  for  many  articles,  which  were  denied 
him.  He  exercised  considerable  ingenuity  to  ob- 
tain them,  but  his  true  character  was  understood, 
and  his  motions  were  watched.  He  at  last  obtained 
a  cartman,  sent  away  his  baggage,  and  departed  him- 
self about  noon,  on  the  eighteenth  or  nineteenth  of 
September. 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  went  the  same  day  in 
search  of  a  more  suitable  residence.  In  the  even- 
ing, Catharine  communicated  some  facts  of  which 
we  were  not  before  aware,  and  which,  on  being 
compared  with  other  circumstances,  convinced  us 
that  Matthias  was  truly  a  wicked  man.  We  have 
since  had  abundant  testimony  to  sustain  us  in  this 
T 


218  MATTHIAS    ANDT 

belief,  and  we  feel  truly  thankful  for  our  escape  froin 
so  deep  a  delusion. 

"  Soon  after  Matthias  came  to  visit  Mr.  Folger, 
the  housekeeper,  who  had  intended  to  change  her 
place  before  he  came,  left  the  family.  After  she 
had  gone,  Matthias  spoke  of  the  coloured  woman, 
often  Referred  to  in  this  narrative,  recommended  her 
for  her  faithfulness  and  industry,  and  advised  her 
engagement.  Mrs.  Folger  reflected  upon  it,  con- 
sulted with  her  husband,  and  they  concluded  to  em- 
ploy her.  Matthias  went  for  her,  but  would  not  al- 
low her  to  have  wages.  Mrs.  Folger  did  not  find 
her  capable  of  rendering  all  the  assistance  she 
needed,  but  as  they  had  a  coloured  man  who  under- 
stood, and  was  disposed  to  assist  in  house-work, 
they  were  willing,  in  consideration  of  her  former 
faithfulness  to  Matthias,  still  to  depend  upon  her  for 
help.  But  she  became  less  useful  as  time  advanced, 
for  she  had  been  in  early  life  a  slave,  and  Matthias 
was  to  requite  those  who  had  been  oppressed  with 
extra  blessings.  If  there  was  any  oppression  to  be 
borne,  or  coming  short  of  blessings,  in  his  kingdom, 
it  must  fall  upon  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  Mr.  Pierson, 
and  their  children,  as  they  had  had  an  abundance  all 
their  lives  ;  they  were  to  be  classed  with  all  those 
who  have  more  than  their  families  need  from  day  to 
day,  and  were  robbers  of  God.  This  doctrine  gave 
much  satisfaction  to  those  members  of  the  family 
who  had  not  been  favoured  with  as  much  ease  as 
they  would  like,  and  they  improved  all  their  oppor- 
tunities. Very  little  regard  was  manifested  by  Mat- 
thias or  any  of  the  rest  of  them  for  economy.     They 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  219 

had  nothing  at  stake — they  came  there  without 
means,  and  they  appeared  to  have  httle  regard  for 
property.  Matthias  had  previously  promised  them, 
or  most  of  them,  that  he  would  provide  abundantly  for 
them,  which  they  were  now  realizing,  and  they  were 
willing  to  receive  all  his  promises  lor  an  abundance 
in  future.  The  snuff-box  tound  in  Matthias's  pos- 
session, with  a  painting  on  the  lid,  representing  the 
monkey  eating  the  oysters  and  handing  the  shells  to 
the  cat,  was  indeed  an  apt  illustration  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger's  situation.  It  was 
presented  to  Matthias  by  Mr.  Folger. 

"  After  Matthias  broke  up  housekeeping,  in  Clark- 
son-street,  in  the  spring  of  1833,  the  coloured  wo- 
man went  out  to  service  in  New- York  by  the  month. 
From  her  account,  as  well  as  that  of  Matthias,  she 
must  haye  been  very  faithful  to  him. 

"  She  gave  the  avails  of  her  labour  to  him,  be- 
sides at  times  borrowing  money  for  him ;  so  that 
when  she  came  to  Mount  Pleasant,  she  was  in  need 
of  clothes.  Mrs.  Folger  furnished  her,  during  the 
time  she  was  with  her,  to  the  amount  of  some  thirty 
or  forty  dollars  ;  the  greater  part  soon  after  she  came. 
When  she  left  Mrs.  Folger,  which  was  on  the  same 
day  that  Matthias  departed,  her  services  were  valued, 
and  Mr.  Folger  paid  her,  at  his  request,  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  dollars,  as  the  amount  due  to  her.  This 
was  a  direct  departure  from  the  doctrine  he  had  pre- 
viously advanced,  but  was  in  character  with  his  con- 
versations about  this  time.  All  these  things  had 
their  weight  to  confirm  us  in  our  opinion  of  his  wick- 
edness, as  a  became  more  and  more  developed. 


220  MATTHIAS    AND 

"  Catharine  was  the  wife  of  one  of  Mr.  M.  H.  S.*s 
waiters,  who  was  with  him  during  the  time  that  Mat- 
thias preached  at  his  house.  He  died  soon  after 
Matthias  left  there,  as  he  (Matthias)  said,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  curse  upon  him,  for  opening  the  door 
when  the  officers  came  that  conveyed  him  to  prison 
at  that  time.  Catharine  was  visited  by  the  col- 
oured woman  as  often  as  circumstances  would  per- 
mit, after  the  latter  came  to  Mount  Pleasant.  The 
coloured  woman  spoke  of  her  to  Mrs.  Folger,  and 
represented  her  as  being  in  poor  health  and  destitute 
circumstances,  and  as  a  very  deserving  person.  In 
November,  1833,  she  was  taken  into  the  service  of 
the  family  at  Singsing,  at  the  request  of  Matthias 
and  Mr.  Pierson.  She  professed  to  be  then,  and 
said  she  had  been  since  Matthias  preached  at  Mr. 
M.  H.  S.'s,  a  believer  in  his  doctrines.  She  be- 
lieved that  Matthias  could  restore  her  to  health. 
Her  oldest  child  was  soon  after  this  refused  support 
by  the  friends  it  had  been  with,  and  it  was  received 
into  the  family  and  continued  with  Mrs.  Folger  long 
after  the  departure  of  Matthias,  and  as  long  as  she 
could  with  convenience  keep  it.  Catharine  re- 
mained with  Mrs.  Folger  until  the  close  of  Decem- 
ber. Soon  after  she  left,  she  called  to  see  Mrs. 
Folger,  and  said  to  her  that  she  had  had  an  inter- 
view with  the  coloured  woman,  and  had  asked  her 
why  she  had  told  so  many  falsehoods  about  Mrs. 
Folger  :  that  the  coloured  woman  replied,  *  Because 
she  was  the  means  of  breaking  up  the  kingdom,' 
and  added,  '  Catharine,  you  know  we  are  among 
the  Gentiles— are   obliged   to  eat   pork,  and  we 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  221 

cannot  help  telling  lies  ;  besides  it's  no  harm  to  lie 
to  these  devils.'  She  concluded  by  saying,  as 
Catharine  represented,  that  she  would  crush  Mrs. 
Folger  yet." 

Thus  much  for  the  narrative  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger.  It  is  a  round,  unvarnished  tale  of  the  deep 
and  melancholy  delusion  in  which  they  were  in- 
volved ;  and  is,  moreover,  as  far  as  it  goes,  a  tale 
of  unexaggerated,  unadorned,  and  simple  truth. 
That  such  is  its  character,  the  writer  entertains  not 
a  particle  of  doubt.  It  is  much  longer  than  was 
anticipated  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  commenced 
preparing  it ;  but  it  would  have  been  easier  to  ex- 
tend than  to  contract  it,  without  the  omission  of 
things  deemed  necessary  to  the  development  of  the 
impostor's  character,  and  to  the  elucidation  of  truth. 
It  is  very  possible,  moreover,  that  those  who  have 
been  anticipating  disclosures  of  yet  deeper  villany 
on  the  part  of  Matthews — of  scenes  of  licentious- 
ness and  lust,  at  the  relation  of  which  humanity 
would  weep,  and  modesty  veil  her  face — will  feel 
some  degree  of  disappointment.  Such  tales,  we 
know,  have  been  circulated,  verbally  and  in  print, 
until  the  ear  has  been  pained,  and  the  soul  sick- 
ened at  their  repetition.  Nor  is  it  strange  that  such 
gross  reports  should  have  obtained  currency.  The 
mystery  which  hung  over  the  establishment  at  Sing- 
sing — and  the  known  and  acknowledged  blindness 
and  infatuation  of  the  estimable  and  previously  re- 
spected proprietors  and  occupants  of  the  head-quai^* 
T  2 


222  MATTHIAS    AND 

ters   of  the   prophet,   and   now  supposed   d^n   of 
iniquity — all  these  circumstances,  and  others  that 
might  be  recapitulated,  conspired  to  raise  suspicion, 
and  to  give  full  employment  to  the  hundred  tongues 
of  rumour.      And  such  would  have  been  the  fact — 
the  worst  would  have  been   surmised — under  the 
circumstances  of  the  case,  had  every  inmate  of  Mr, 
Folger's  house  been  chaste  and  pure  "  as  the  icicle 
that  hung  from  Dian's  temple."     And  so  ready  are 
the  credulous  public  ever  to  believe  the  worst  of  a 
tale  of  scandal,  that  the  immoralities  of  the  leader  of 
any  sect  in  religion,  remarkable  either  for  its  novelty 
or  wildness,  however  flagrant,  but  too  often  gives 
colouring  to  the  grossest  and  most  indiscriminate 
charges.     But  insinuations  of  such  impurities,  more 
especially  in  cases  where  pure  and  blameless  lives 
have  afforded  no  previous  sanction  to  the  scandal, 
ought  always  to  be  received  with  caution.     And  we 
should  be  ever  careful   in  our  censures  of  those 
whose  errors  are  founded  on  the  mere  perversion 
of  reason.      "  Though  rue  speak  with  the  tongues  of 
men  and  of  angels,  and  have  not  charity,  we  are  as 
sounding  brass,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal.      Charity  suf 
fereth    long,   and   is    kind ;    charity   envieth   not ; 
thinketh  no  evil.     Charity  rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity, 
but  hopeth  all  things,  and  rejoiceth  in  the  truth.^^ 
Let  us  remember,  moreover,  that  we  are  all  frail 
beings — and    that    we    know   not    how   far    God 
will  allow  his  people  to  wander  into  error,  and  yet 
bring  them  back  to  his  fold  ;  calling  also  to  mind  the 
words  of  the  apostle  in  the  following  injunction. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  223 

which  applies  forcibly  in  a  case  like  the  present : — 
**  Brethren,  if  a  man  be  overtaken  in  a  fault,  ye 
which  are  spiritual  restore  such  an  one  in  the  spirit 
of  meekness ;  considering  thyself  lest  thou  also  be 
templed.  Bear  ye  one  anolher^s  burdens,  and  so 
fulfil  the  law  of  Christ." 


224  MATTHIAS   AND 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Farther  notes  respecting  Mr.  Pierson — Visit  of  Mr.  Folger  with 
a  message  to  Mr.  M.  at  the  Bloomingdale  Asjdum — Mr.  Lais- 
dell  pursues  his  wife  to  Singsing,  New-York,  and  back  to 
Mount  Zion— Proceedings  by  Habeas  Corpus — Obtains  a  re- 
lease— High  excitement — Conduct  of  Matthias  at  Shigsing 
— Folger  breaks  with  hmi — Is  overcome — The  people  resolve 
to  drive  him  from  the  county — Ruse  de  guerre,  and  shaving 
of  his  beard — Suspicions  of  murder  in  the  case  of  Pierson, 
'  and  of  an  attempt  on  the  lives  of  Mr.  Folger  and  {amily — 
The  impostor  pursued  to  Albany,  arrested,  and  brought  back — 
His  costly  array  returned  and  enumerated — Post  Mortem  exam- 
ination of  Mr.  Pierson — Curious  conversation  with  a  lawyer 
— Matthias's  jealou.sy  of  a  rival,  and  account  of  Mr.  Pierson's 
death— His  examination— Other  legal  proceedings  with  the 
charge  of  murder — Causes  of  Pierson's  and  Folger's  losses 
of  property — Combination  of  swindlers  against  them — Un- 
fortunate directions  of  the  Spirit  in  regard  to  machines  and 
stocks. 

In  resuming  our  own  connected  history  of  Mat- 
thews and  his  deluded  associates,  it  will  be  necessa- 
ry to  recur  back  a  few  months,  to  collect  a  few  scat- 
tered particulars  which  have  not  been  mentioned 
in  the  preceding  narrative  from  Mr.  Folger  and  his 
wife.  Of  Mr.  Pierson,  little  remains  to  be  said. 
His  diary  continued  to  be  kept  with  considerable 
regularity,  after  he  went  to  reside  at  Mount  Zion ; 
but  the  entries  were  brief,  and  in  general  devoid  of 
his  former  religious  unction,  or  of  interest  of  any 
kind.     Being  confined  chiefly  to  the  business  of  the 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  225 

day,  and  the  movements  of  the  principal  members 
ot*  the  household,  to  and  from  New- York,  and  else- 
where. From  these  entries,  it  appears  that  on  the 
23d  of  December,  Mr.  Folger  was  baptized  by 
Matthews,  and  on  the  day  following  Mr.  Pierson 
was  himself  baptized.  On  a  subsequent  day  it  is 
recorded — "  Robert  Matthias  anointed  me  with  oil, 
and  I  afterward  anointed  him  and  Ann  [Folger] 
with  oil."  The  following  is  another  of  his  record- 
ed prayers : — 

",Lord  Jesus,  I  ask  thee  particularly  to  give  me  power  over 
the  drunken  spirit,  to  cast  it  out  of  whomsoever  I  will,  and  for- 
bid it  from  ever  entering  again  into  the  same  person  from  whom 
it  is  cast  out." 

In  the  annexed  memorandum  we  have  another 
reference  to  one  of  Matthews's  visions  : 

"  Mr.  Matthias  had  his  exercises,  respecting  the  sanctuary, 
as  follows.  An  angel  said  with  a  loud  voice,  the  sanctuary  must 
be  cleansed ;  the  sanctuary  shall  be  cleansed  ;  the  sanctuary 
rmist  and  shall  be  cleansed.     Speedily,  speedily,  speedily.  " 

On  one  occasion  we  find  him  praying  for  a  mi- 
raculous restoration  of  his  decayed  teeth,  and  on 
another  that  his  eye-sight  may  be  restored  as  in  the 
days  of  his  youth.  To  the  former  request  we  find 
no  recorded  answer ;  but  in  regard  to  his  eye-sight, 
he  states,  a  few  days  subsequent  to  the  date  of  his 
prayer,  that,  chancing  to  hold  his  book  at  a  great 
distance  from  his  eyes  than  he  had  been  wont,  he 
could  see  with  much  more  distinctness ;  and  he 
records  the  fact,  which  is  of  every-day  occurrence 
with  those  whose  eyes  are  becoming  dim  by  the  ad- 
vance of  years,  as  a  miraculous  interposition  in 
finswer  to  his  prayer  ! 


226  MATTHIAS    AND 

The  following  is  a  memorandum  found  among 
Mr.  Pierson's  papers,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr. 
Folger.  It  shows  how  entirely  the  delusion  had 
fastened  upon  his  own  mind,  more  strongly  even  than 
according  to  his  own  relation,  if  that  be  possible. 

Saturday,  January  18,  1834.  This  morning  we  left  Zion  Hill 
for  New- York  city,  witii  directions  from  Father  to  call  upon  Mr. 
M.  at  the  Bloomingdale  asylum  on  the  way.  In  conformity 
therewith  we  called,  and  had  an  interview  with  him  late  in  the 
afternoon.  After  an  exchange  of  the  ordinary  salutations,  we 
proceeded  to  deliver  the  message  we  had  received  from  the 
Father,  Robert  Matthias,  namely  :  The  Father's  house  has  been 
established  upon  a  permanent  foundation,  at  the  place  which  was 
called  Mr.  Folger's  near  Singsing.  We  have  been  directed  to 
say  to  you,  that  you  are  now  required  to  leave  this  place,  and 
come  there,  where  you  will  be  made  welcome  and  happy  :  pro- 
vision havmg  been  made  for  you  and  your  children." 

The  journey  of  Mr.  Folger  to  Albany,  early  in 
January,  1834,  to  bring  the  family  of  Matthews  to 
Mount  Zion,  has  been  detailed  by  him,  and  is 
in  entire  accordance  with  the  statement  of  the  same 
transaction  by  Mrs.  Matthews  herself.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  Mrs.  M.  declined  going  with  her 
children,  who  were  accompanied  by  their  sister, 
Mrs.  Laisdell,  then  recently  married.  Receiving 
no  intelligence  from  his  wife,  Laisdell  followed  her 
•to  Singsing,  where  he  arrived  on  or  about  the  first 
of  February.  Applying  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son,  he  was  informed  that  his  wife  was  with  her 
father  in  New-York.  He  pursued  them  to  the  city, 
sought  out  the  house  in  Third-street,  and  demanded 
her  restoration  ;  but  Matthews  evaded  the  requisi- 
tion, and  returned  with  his  daughter  to  Singsing. 
Laisdell  returned  also,  and,  by  the  advice  of  friends, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  227 

sued  out  a  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus.  Public  indig- 
nation was  raging  fiercely  at  Singsing  against  the 
impostor,  and  on  hearing  of  the  treatment  his  daugh- 
ter had  received  at  his  hands,  the  manifestations  of  a 
popular  out-breaking,  unless  she  should  be  set  at  lib- 
erty, were  unequivocal.  The  citadel  was  besieged, 
and  by  the  demonstrations  of  civil  officers,  clergymen, 
lawyers,  and  resolute  yeomen,  they  succeeded  in 
compelling  the  arch-fanatic  to  yield  her  up  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  writ.  Matthews,  his  daughter,  and  Mr. 
Folger  were  thereupon  brought  before  a  magistrate  in 
the  village,  on  the  17th  of  February.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  investigation,  the  former  claimed 
Mrs.  Laisdell  as  his  daughter.  Her  husband  then 
produced  the  certificate  of  their  marriage,  signed  by 
Frederick  G.  Mayer,  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation in  Albany.  Matthews  pronounced  the 
minister  to  be  a  devil,  protesting  that  the  devil 
could  not  marry.  He  was  violent  and  vociferous 
as  usual  when  excited,  and  uttered  many  other  ex- 
pressions of  rudeness  and  profanity,  in  the  earlier 
stage  of  the  proceedings  ;  but  as  a  vast  multitude 
of  people  had  collected,  a  portion  of  whom  began 
to  assume  a  threatening  attitude,  he  changed  his 
conduct  to  that  of  mildness  and  circumspection. 
Laisdell  said  he  did  not  wish  his  wife  to  return  with 
him  unless  agreeable  to  her  own  wishes.  It  was 
proposed  that  she  should  go  into  a  separate  room 
and  converse  with  him,  to  which  she  consented ; 
but  her  resolution  was  changed  instantaneously  by 
a  single  glance  of  her  father's  eye  ;  "  there  was  no 
use  in  it,"  she  said,  and  she  did  not  wish  to  go  with 


228  MATTHIAS    AND 

her  husband.  The  magistrate,  however,  doubtless 
believing  that  the  father  was  the  diabolical  spirit, 
rather  than  the  minister  who  had  married  them,  di- 
rected the  young  woman  to  be  surrendered  to  her 
husband.  The  people  were  greatly  exasperated  ; 
and  but  for  the  prudence  of  the  judge  and  counsel 
employed  on  the  occasion,  the  prophet  would  have 
been  stripped  of  his  sacerdotals,  and  shorn  of  his 
beard,  and  all  other  fantastical  appendages  :  a  sub- 
stitute would  have  been  found  in  a  robe  of  tar  and 
feathers.  Mr.  Folger  applied  to  the  court  for  pro- 
tection for  himself  and  family  on  their  return  home, 
a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  being  convinced  that 
they  were  exposed  to  danger.  The  people,  how- 
ever, assured  him  that  his  wife  and  himself  had 
nothing  to  fear  ;  but  it  was  only  with  great  difficulty 
that  they  were  restrained  from  laying  violent  hands 
on  the  impostor.  But  good  sense  and  self-respect 
prevailed  in  the  end  ;  a  carriage  was  procured,  and 
the  parties  were  suffered  to  leave  without  molesta- 
tion. Matthews  had  been  very  insolent  to  the  court, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  investigation,  and  the  judges 
had  only  been  deterred  from  committing  him  for  a 
contempt,  by  the  desire  of  preventing  popular  tu- 
mult and  violence.  Matthews  was  not  insensible  to 
his  personal  peril,  and  trembled  like  an  aspen  leaf 
while  those  who  were  anxious  to  preserve  the  pub- 
lic peace  were  leading  him  to  his  carriage. 

It  was  the  custom  of  Matthews  to  ride  out  in  his 
"  chariot"  almost  daily,  while  residing  at  Singsing  ; 
and  as  he  made  all  the  purchases,  and  laid  in  all 
the  supplies  for  the  establishment  at  Mount  Zion, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  229 

his  visits  to  the  village  were  frequent ;  but  he 
usually  met,  when  there,  with  those  expressions  of 
reprehension  and  disgust  which  he  deserved — repel- 
Hng  them  with  the  bitterest  cursings,  and  his  wonted 
absurd  threatenings  respecting  his  power  to  infiict 
chastisement  upon  the  offenders.  But  those  out- 
pourings of  his  distempered  spirit  were  regarded 
only  with  emotions  of  contempt.  Meantime,  he  was 
amply  supplied  with  money  :  he  directed  the  pur- 
chase and  sale  of  horses  at  his  pleasure — procured 
every  luxury  he  desired,  and  seemed  to  revel  with  a 
sway  uncontrolled  in  the  paradise  which  his  deluded 
followers  had  placed  at  his  disposal. 

Mr.  Folger  and  his  family  had  been  sincerely  re- 
spected at  Singsing,  and  deservedly  so.  The  sym- 
pathy for  his  situation  was  great ;  while  for  Mat- 
thews, but  one  sentiment — that  of  universal  disgust 
— was  entertained.  He  was  considered  by  all 
classes  as  an  interloper  upon  Mr.  Folger,  who 
would  ruin  his  peace  of  mind,  his  reputation,  and, 
probably,  his  eternal  prospects.  Many  remon- 
strances were  urged  upon  Mr.  Folger,  and  he  was 
faithfully  and  affectionately  advised  to  discard  him, 
but  without  avail.  At  one  time,  he  returned  to 
Mount  Zion  from  the  city  with  his  soul  on  fire,  ap- 
parently, and  with  his  eyes  open  as  to  his  real  situa- 
tion ;  to  his  friends  he  declared  Mai  thews  to  be  a 
gross  impostor,  and  promised  to  eject  him  forthwith  ; 
asking  advice  and  assistance  of  them,  if  neces- 
sary. But  on  entering  the  charmed  casde,  he  be- 
came spell-bound,  and  was  unmanned.  Deeming  it 
a  favourable  moment  to  dismiss  the  impostor,  a  few 
U 


230  MATTHIAS    AND 

friends  of  Mr.  F.  waited  on  him  that  evening,  and 
urged  the  fulfihiaent  of  his  purpose  ;  but  he  begged 
them  to  leave  him,  and  the  next  day  declared,  ^^J\]at- 
thias^s  doctrines  must  he  true,  or  I  am  a  ruined 
man!"  At  this  point  human  endurance  was  at  an 
end,  and  he  was  frankly  told  that  the  impostor  must 
leave  the  county  that  day,  or  violent  measures  would 
be  taken  to  remove  him. 

Matthews,  ever  alive  to  approaching  danger, 
made  instant  preparations  for  his  departure  to  the 
city ;  but  several  individuals  determined  upon  hav- 
ing a  frolic  at  his  expense  before  his  flight,  for  which 
purpose  matters  were  well  arranged.  Just  as  he 
was  about  to  step  into  his  chariot,  he  was  arrested 
by  a  pretended  officer,  accompanied  by  several  asso- 
ciates to  enforce  his  authority.  Matthews  demanded 
a  sight  of  the  precept,  but  the  counterfeit  officer  de- 
clined exhibiting  it.  They  returned  into  the  house 
to  converse  upon  the  subject.  But  the  moment 
they  had  succeeded  in  getting  Matthews  within 
doors,  the  keys  were  turned.  After  a  parley  of 
some  duration,  the  prophet  consented  to  go  to  the 
village.  The  supposed  officer  then  gravely  informed 
him  of  a  conspiracy  to  divest  him  of  his  beard.  He 
stated  that  there  were  a  party  of  fellows  in  ambush 
by  the  way,  determined  to  seize  him  and  cut  off  his 
beard  before  he  should  enter  the  village  ;  and  he 
kindly  advised  him  to  take  off  his  beard  before 
he  left  the  house.  It  was  a  sore  trial  for  Mat- 
thews, for  the  beard  of  Mahomet  himself  was 
not  more  sacred  in  his  own  eyes,  or  in  those 
of  his  followers.  Being  convinced,  however,  that 
discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valour,  he  at  length 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  231 

yielded  to  the  suggestion,  and  the  officer  himself 
condescended  to  perform  the  operation  of  divesting 
him  at  once  of  his  glory  and  his  strength.  He  was 
then  taken  to  the  village  as  in  custody,  and  after 
being  exhibited  beardless  to  the  people,  was  dis- 
charged on  the  ground  of  a  defect  in  the  warrant. 
In  this  predicament  he  fled  to  the  city,  and  took 
refuge  in  Third-street,  as  related  in  the  narrative  of 
Mr.  Folger. 

The  history  is  now  resumed  at  the  point  where  it 
was  left  by  the  narrative  referred  to.  With  the  ab- 
sence of  the  impostor  himself,  and  the  return  of  rea- 
son and  reflection,  Mr.  Folger  and  his  wife  now 
began  every  hour  to  perceive,  more  and  more  clearly, 
the  strange  delusion  by  which  they  had  so  long  and 
so  fatally  been  influenced.  Every  moment  also  in- 
creased the  abhorrence  and  detestation  with  which 
they  looked  upon  the  character  of  the  impostor. 
Recalling  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case — the 
conduct  of  Matthews  at  the  table,  when  he  refused 
to  partake  of  the  fruit  which  they  supposed  to  have 
caused  the  death  of  Pierson — remembering,  more- 
over, his  threats  towards  themselves,  when  he  per- 
ceived his  power  over  their  imaginations  was  depart- 
ing, and  the  sickness  which  had  followed  those 
threats  upon  every  member  of  the  family  who  par- 
took of  the  coffee,  which  neither  Matthews  nor  the 
cook,  who  was  his  disciple,  would  themselves  taste 
— strange  misgivings  now  took  possession  of  their 
minds,  that  Mr.  Pierson  might  have  died  by  foul 
means,  and  that  an  attempt,  by  poison,  had  been 
made  upon  their  own  lives.  In  any  event,  it  was 
now  manifest  that  they  had  been  most  shamefully 


232  MATTHIAS    AND 

deluded  and  swindled  by  the  false  pretences  of  the 
impostor,  and,  after  consulting  with  his  friends,  on 
the  19th  of  September,  Mr.  Folger  caused  an  adver- 
tisement to  be  inserted  in  the  papers,  offering  a  re- 
ward of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  apprehension  of 
Matthews  ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  arrested 
at  Albany,  where  he  had  taken  lodgings  on  escaping 
from  New-York — visiting  his  wife,  more  like  a  stran- 
ger than  a  husband,  and  making  no  provision  for 
her  support.  On  his  person  were  found  five  hundred 
and  five  dollars  in  gold,  part  of  the  money  obtained 
from  Mr.  Folger,  and  the  gold  watch,  chain,  &c., 
which  had  also  been  obtained  from  him.  The  cir- 
cumstances were  these  :— In  January,  1834,  Mat- 
thews informed  him  that  a  watch  which  had  been 
given  to  him  by  Mr.  Pierson  had  been  taken  from 
him,  and  that  it  was  his  (Folger's)  duty  to  give  him 
another,  which  he  accordingly  did — purchasing  a 
new  gold  watch,  v.ith  chain,  seal,  and  key,  of  the 
value  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars,  for  the  pur- 
pose. Information  of  his  arrest,  under  the  adver- 
tisement, having  been  received  from  Albany,  accom- 
panied by  an  intimation  that  unless  demanded  by 
legal  process,  he  would  be  set  at  liberty,  Mr. 
Folger,  with  his  counsel,  went  before  one  of  the 
police  magistrates  and  made  a  deposition,  embracing 
not  indeed  the  whole  particulars  of  his  connection 
with  Matthews,  but  sufllicient  to  bring  the  latter 
within  the  operation  of  the  law,  and  far  more,  as 
may  well  be  imagined,  than  sufficient  to  prove  him 
either  a  raving  madman,  or  one  of  the  most  impu- 
dent and  shameless  impostors  that  ever  existed. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  233 

A  warrant  was  issued  upon  the  strength  of  this 
deposition,  with  which  an  officer  was  despatched  to 
Albany,  and  by  virtue  of  which  the  impostor  was 
speedily  brought  to  New- York. 

Among  other  articles  foiuid  with  him  when  ar- 
rested, was  a  very  beautiful  two-edged  sword,  which 
he  called  the  sword  of  Gideon,  and  which,  he  de- 
clared, was  miraculously  preserved  and  put  into  his 
possession.  On  examining  it,  however,  it  exhibited 
strong  marks  of  having  once  belonged  to,  or  at 
least  been  made  for,  an  officer  of  the  United  States 
army,  as  the  blade  of  it  was  inscribed  with  the  na- 
tional motto,  "  E  plurUms  unum."  Along  with  this 
sword  was  found  a  six-feet  rule,  marked  like  a  car- 
penter's scale,  which,  the  impostor  said,  was  to 
measure  the  New  Jerusalem,  in  order  to  divide  it 
into  lots  for  such  as  believed  in  and  assisted  to  sup- 
port him.  But  the  antiquity  of  the  scale  was  also 
(disproved  on  examination,  by  the  inscription  "  Ktiiz^ 
m«/ier,  JVo.  164  IVater-streef,  JVew-York.^'  Along 
with  these  articles  was  a  large  gold  key,  or  at  least 
a  key  that  looked  like  gold,  which,  he  stated,  was 
given  him  to  unlock  the  gates  of  heaven.  The  of- 
ficer also  brought  with  his  prisoner  two  large  trunks 
and  a  carpet-bag — the  latter  filled  with  new  boots, 
shoes,  and  pumps,  and  the  former  with  linen  and 
wearing  apparel  of  the  richest  and  most  costly 
description.  Linen  shirts  of  exquisite  fineness,  the 
wristbands  fringed  with  delicate  lace,  silk  stockings 
and  handkerchiefs,  kid  and  other  gloves,  and  a  great 
variety  of  similar  articles  filled  one  of  the  trunks; 
while  the  other  contained  his  gold-mounted  cocked 
U2 


234  MATTHIAS    AND 

hat,  an  oiive  cloak  of  the  finest  texture,  lined  through- 
out with  velvet  and  silk ;  a  new  green  and  brown 
frock-coat  of  similar  quality,  the  former  heavily  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  the  latter  with  silver,  in  the 
form  of  stars,  with  a  large  sun  on  one  breast  and 
seven  stars  on  the  other  ;  two  merino  morning- 
dresses  ;  and  other  rich  et  cseteras  "  too  tedious  to 
mention."  But  the  rarest  articles  of  all  were  two 
night-caps,  made  of  linen  cambric,  folded  in  the 
form  of  a  mitre,  richly  embroidered — one  with  the 
names  of  the  twelve  apostles  written  around  it,  and 
*'  Jesus  Matthias"  adorning  the  front  in  more  con- 
spicuous characters  ;  the  other  surrounded  with  the 
names  of  the  twelve  tribes,  the  front  embellished  the 
same  as  the  other.  The  whole  betokened  the  ut- 
most extravagance  and  lavish  expenditure  of  money 
and  labour ;  and  months  must  have  been  spent  by 
female  hands  (probably  those  of  some  one  or  more 
of  his  disciples)  in  ornamenting  and  making  up  the 
apparel  of  this  dainty  impostor. 

Some  days  intervened  after  his  arrival  in  New- 
York  before  an  examination  could  be  held.  Mean- 
time, and  during  the  absence  of  Matthews  at  Albany, 
the  death  of  Mr.  Pierson  had  been  followed  by  no 
small  degree  of  excitement  at  Singsing.  A  multi- 
tude of  rumours  were  in  circulation,  and  a  legal  in- 
vestigation into  the  causes  of  his  death  was  com- 
menced. The  body  of  the  deceased  was  disinterred 
at  Morristown,  and,  on  a  post  mortem  examination, 
several  respectable  physicians  certified  "  that  they 
found  in  the  stomach  a  large  quantity  of  an  unwhole- 
some and  deadly  substance,  which  had  been  intro- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  235 

duced  accidentally  or  otherwise."  The  publication 
of  these  facts  had  of  course  increased  the  excite- 
ment upon  the  subject  in  New- York  and  elsewhere. 

On  the  morning  of  his  examination,  however,  a 
scene  occurred  in  his  apartment,  which  it  is  neces- 
sary to  describe,  in  order  to  the  farther  illustration 
of  his  own  character,  and  also  to  disclose  a  new  cir- 
cumstance in  the  history,  as  connected  with  Mr. 
Pierson.  While  waiting  for  the  commencement  of 
the  proceedings,  Mr.  W ,  a  counsellor  in  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Folger,  and  who,  in  the  course  of  his 
professional  business,  had  known  much  of  the  con- 
nection of  Matthews  with  Pierson  and  his  client, 
stepped  into  the  apartment  in  which  the  prisoner 
was  detained,  seating  himself,  and  taking  not  the 
ieast  notice  of  him.  Matthews  knew  the  gentleman 
perfectly,  but  for  a  time  afTected  ignorance — striding 
about  the  apartment  with  affected  dignity,  and  ex- 
claiming "  devil ! — devil!"  evidently  with  the  design 
of  provoking  remark,  or  at  least  of  attracting  atten- 
tion. Failing  in  this,  he  all  at  once  changed  his 
manner,, and  approached  the  gentleman  with  com- 
parative courtesy,  remarking : — 

»  Mr.  W ,  I  believe  1" 

"  Well,"  replied  the  gentleman,  with  indifference, 
*'  what  should  you  think  about  it  ?" 

"  Why,"  rejoined  the  impostor,  with  an  arch  wink 
of  the  eye  and  a  sardonic  grin,  "  I — I — should 
think  it  was." 

The  gentleman  then  spoke  to  him  thus  :  "  Now, 
Matthias,  you  know  me  very  well,  and  you  know 
that  J  know  you  very  well.     You  need  not,  there- 


236  MATTHIAS    AND 

fore,  put  on  any  of  your  airs,  as  I  shall  not  regard 
them,  or  reverence  your  godship." 

Upon  this  salutation,  Matthews  lowered  his  pre- 
tensions, and  began  to  converse  like  any  other  man. 
He  inquired  what  people  said  of  him  out  of  doors ; 
what  they  said  of  Pierson's  death  ;  and  what  of  his 
connection  with  it ;  and  other  questions  of  the  like 
general  character.  To  all  which  an  indifferent  an- 
swer of  not  having  heard,  or  not  knowing  much 
about  it,  was  returned.  Matthews,  however,  was 
for  once  communicative,  and  expressed  a  desire  to 
talk  over  the  whole  subject.  And  here,  for  the  due 
understanding  of  the  case,  and  in  justice  to  another 
party,  it  must  be  observed,  that  Mrs.  *  *  *,  the 
original  author  of  the  whole  chain  of  fanatical 
measures  which  had  prepared  the  way  for  Matthews, 
had  never  herself  become  one  of  his  followers. 
She  had  brought  the  delusion  upon  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pierson  and  the  other  associates,  but  she  would 
never  join  the  prophet,  and,  indeed,  she  endeavoured 
to  dissuade  others  from  following  him.  And  Mat- 
thews, on  his  part,  was  jealous  of  her  influence,  at 
times,  over  Pierson — considering  her  a  rival  of  him- 
self. 

With  this    explanation,  we  proceed :    Matthews 

said  to  Mr.  W ,  that  Pierson  would  not  have 

died,  had  he  not  lost  his  faith  in  him.  He  then 
mentioned  that  about  a  fortnight  before  his  sickness 
Pierson  made  a  visit  to  the  residence  of  the  lady  re- 
ferred to,  then  living  in  the  country,  and  on  his  re- 
turn to  the  house  in  Third-street,  he  (Matthews) 
discavered  that  he  (Pierson)  was  losing  his  faith  in 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  237 

him :  that  when  he  (Pierson)  came  up  to  Singsing, 
just  previous  to  his  sickness,  he  perceived  that  the 
spirit  of  truth  was  departing  from  him  :  he  was  still 
losing  his  confidence  in  him,  &c.  &c.  The 
prophet  then  proceeded  to  relate  the  circumstances 
of  the  picking  of  the  blackberries  by  himself  and  his 
son  John  ;  but  he  added,  that  having  discovered 
that  there  was  a  curse  upon  the  blackberries  that 
season,  he  neither  ate  any  of  them  himself,  nor  per- 
mitted his  son  to  eat  any.  He  dwelt  upon  the  sub- 
ject at  large  ;  and  concluded  this  branch  of  his  dis- 
course by  declaring,  that  notwithstanding  the  curse 
upon  the  fruit,  yet  that  Pierson  might  nevertheless 
have  been  saved,  but  for  his  want  of  faith  in  him — 
hinting  evidently  at  the  transfer  of  his  faith  to  some 
one  else  ;  a  matter  that  was  well  understood. 

Having  thus  got  into  conversation  with  him,  the 
gentleman  determined  to  indulge  his  curiosity  for  the 
moment,  by  inquiring  into  the  origin  of  his  prophetic 
character.  He  asked  him,  "  Matthias,  how  long  is 
it  since  you  supposed  that  there  was  something  pe- 
culiar in  your  character,  or  have  you  but  recently 
discovered  it  f 

Matthews  then  came  and  sat  down  by  his  side, 
placing  his  hand  familiarly  upon  him,  and  went  into 
the  whole  subject.  He  said  that  some  years  previ- 
ous to  his  removing  to  Albany,  when  alone  one  day 
at  Fort  Miller,  he  had  a  revelation  of  his  extraor- 
dinary character,  which  revelation  was  afterward  re- 
peated at  Albany.  But  by  this  time  he  began  to 
soar  into  the  clouds  again.  He  stated  that  on  a 
certain  day,  while  walking  down  South  Market- 


238  MATTHIAS    AND 

Street,  suddenly  he  had  a  view  of  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem— the  folding  gates  of  which  spontaneously 
opened  at  his  approach.  A  sort  of  mist  at  first  ob- 
scured his  vision,  but  that  soon  passed  away,  and  he 
stood  amid  the  blazing  glories  of  the  place — ra- 
diant with  ineffable  light.  He  proceeded  to  give  a 
gorgeous  description  of  the  splendour  which  shone 
and  flashed  above  and  around  him  ;  and  in  conclu- 
sion declared  that  he  then  and  there  first  received 
his  commission  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  to 
break  down  all  secret  societies.  Immediately  there- 
after he  commenced  his  ministry. 

This  was  on  the  1st  day  of  October,  and  the 
time  of  proceeding  to  business  having  arrived,  the 
examination  was  had  before  Mr.  Justice  Wyman, 
the  presiding  magistrate  ;  his  manner  was  subdued, 
and  he  answered  the  questions  put  to  him  in  a  mild 
low  tone  of  voice.  The  following  is  the  substance 
of  his  statements,  almost  literally  in  his  own  words. 

"  My  name  is  Matthias,  which  is  the  name  I  in- 
herited from  my  father ;  I  am  forty-six  years  old, 
and  was  born  at  Cambridge,  Washington  county,  in 
this  state.  I  am  a  traveller,  but  Zion  Hill  is  my 
legal  home.  I  am  a  Jewish  teacher,  a  priest  of  the 
Most  High — preaching,  saying,  and  doing  all  that  I 
do  under  oath,  by  virtue  of  having  subscribed  to  all 
the  covenants  that  God  has  made  unto  man,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world — chief  high-priest  of  the 
Jews,  after  the  order  of  Melchisedeck, — the  last 
chosen  of  the  apostles  and  the  first  of  the  resurrec- 
tion, which  is  at  the  end  of  2300  years  after  the  build- 
ing of  Jerusalem  by  Cyrus,  and  1260  after  the 


HIS  nviPOSTURES.  233 

birth  of  the  false  prophet  Mahomet,  whose  power 
ended  in  1830.  I  am  now  denouncing  a  judgment 
on  the  Gentiles,  which  is  to  be  executed  in  this  pre- 
sent age.  All  the  blood,  from  Zechariah  to  the 
death  of  the  last  witness,  is  required  of  this  gene- 
ration, and  before  this  generation  passeth  away,  the 
judgment  shall  be  fulfilled.  I  am  the  spirit  of  truth, 
and  I  declare  these  things,  and  that  the  hour  of 
God's  judgment  is  at  hand. 

"In  my  character  of  preacher,  I  have  endeavoured 
to  impress  all  men  with  the  truth  and  importance  of 
the  doctrines  I  have  just  stated,  but  not  more  upon 
Mr.  Folger  than  others. 

"  I  have  never  told  him  that  I  possessed  the 
power  of  hfe  and  death,  and  the  remission  of  sins  ; 
nor  that  if  he  believed  in  me  he  would  be  saved, 
and  if  he  did  not  that  he  would  be  damned.  But  I 
have  declared  to  him  and  to  all,  that  they  must  obey 
the  dictates  of  the  spirit  of  truth  in  all  things,  as 
did  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  I  say  that  my  person  is  a 
trumpet  whereby  the  spirit  of  truth  speaks,  and  de- 
clares that  all  must  believe  in  that  spirit  and  obey 
its  dictates,  whereby  they  will  be  saved ;  and  that 
if  they  do  not,  they  will  be  damned. 

"  In  all  my  preaching,  and  especially  to  strangers, 
I  have  always  declared  that  I  could  receive  nothing 
from  them  as  a  gift  of  their  property,  but  that,  if 
they  believed  themselves  to  have  property  which 
belonged  to  God,  they  might  give  it  to  me,  if  they 
pleased,  as  his  servant ;  and  I  have  never  received 
any  thing  in  any  other  way  from  any  person,  since  I 
began  to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel.     Mr.  Fol- 


240  MATTHIAS    AND 

ger,  Mr.  Pierson,  and  Mr.  M.  said  they  believed 
me  to  be  the  Father,  quahfied  and  ordained  to  es- 
tablish the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth ;  and  for 
that  purpose  Zion  Hill  was  made  over  to  me,  with 
all  the  furniture,  carriages,  and  other  things  belong- 
ing to  it ;  the  furniture  and  other  things  in  the  house 
No.  8  Third-street,  in  this  city,  were  also  made 
over  to  me,  and  the  house  itself  was  to  be  made 
over  also,  but  Mr.  Pierson  died  before  the  deed  wa& 
executed.  A  bill  in  Chancery  was  afterward  filed 
against  me,  and  I  consented  to  restore  the  property  ; 
but  I  still  claim  it  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
God's  kingdom  upon  earth,  as  the  beginning  of 
which  it  was  originally  conveyed  to  me. 

"  In  June  or  July,  1833,  as  near  as  I  can  recol- 
lect, Mr.  Folger  invited  me  to  make  his  house  my 
home,  and  I  did  reside  with  him  a  short  time — that 
was  before  the  property  was  transferred  to  me. 

"I  have  received  from  him  at  various  times  gold  in 
exchange  for  bank  notes  of  my  own  ;  there  were  va- 
rious money  transactions  between  him,  and  Mr.  Pier- 
son, and  me,  in  which  we  accommodated  each  other 
as  occasion  required.  I  have  received  money  from 
Mr.  Folger  at  different  times,  to  what  amount  I  can- 
not say  precisely,  but  I  remember  that  at  one  time 
I  had  of  him  the  sum  of  twenty-seven  hundred  dol- 
lars. From  him  and  Mr.  Pierson  I  have  received 
in  all  about  ten  thousand  dollars,  but  five  thousand 
of  this  were  in  a  bond  and  mortgage  originally  given 
to  secure  Mrs.  Folger  that  sum  of  her  own  sepa- 
rate estate,  and  afterward  transferred  to  me.  All 
,the  money  I  received  has  been  expended  in  furnish- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  241 

ing  the  establishments  at  Zion  Hill,  and  No.  8 
Third-street,  and  in  defraying  the  expenses  at  both 
those  houses.  I  acted  in  all  these  matters  in  per- 
fect good  faith,  as  the  Father.  Mr.  Folger  has  the 
bills  of  all  the  payments  I  made." 

After  this  examination  he  was  committed  for 
trial.  But  in  consequence  of  the  appearance  of  the 
examination  in  the  morning  papers,  at  full  length,  Mr. 
Folger  made  the  following  communication  through 
the  Commercial  Advertiser  of  the  following  day  : — 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

I  had  intended,  by  the  advice  of  several  judicious  friends,  not 
to  have  noticed  any  of  the  statements  of  the  impostor  Matthias, 
or  of  the  wild  rumours  growing  out  of  the  delusion  I  have  been 
under  in  reference  to  him  ;  but  as  the  statements  made  by  him 
in  his  examination  before  the  Police  yesterday,  as  published  in 
the  morning  papers,  are  calculated  to  injure  me  seriously,  I 
think  it  best  to  deny  those  statements,  the  object  of  them,  with 
Matthias,  being,  no  doubt,  to  crush  me  if  possible.  I  have  no 
objection  that  Matthias,  or  any  one  else,  should  state  the  ivhole 
truth  in  reference  to  any  transaction  of  mine,  but  that  which 
is  totally  untrue  I  must  protest  against,  and,  when  necessary, 
meet  and  refute. 

Matthias  stated  in  his  examination  yesterday,  that  on  one  oc- 
casion he  received  from  me  $2,700;  this  is  true  as  far  as  it 
goes  ;  but  the  whole  truth  is  this  :  that  early  in  the  present  year 
I  sold  a  property,  for  which  the  party  paid  me  about  three  o'clock 
— too  late  to  be  deposited  in  the  bank  that  afternoon.  I  was 
gomg  to  Hartford  that  afternoon  in  the  steamboat,  and  fearing  to 
take  it  in  my  pocket,  I  left  it  in  his  charge  for  safe-keeping  until 
my  return,  which  was  in  about  forty-eight  hours ;  so  that  he  did 
in  fact  receive  $2,700  from  me,  and  kept  it  until  I  returned,  when 
I  received  it  again  from  him. 

The  statement  about  a  mortgage  of  $5,000,  either  on  my  place 
at  Singsing,  or  any  other  property  to  secure  that  sum  to  the 
estate  of  Mrs.  Folger,  is  totally  untrue.  No  such  mortgage  was 
ever  given. 

A.S  it  regards  Mr.  Pierson  having  directed  that  a  deed  of 
Third-street  property  should  be  given,  it  is  entirely  new  to  me — 
and  he  is  not  living  to  state  what  he  did  say  to  Matthias.  I 
know  nothing  about  it,  but  I  do  not  tliink  he  ever  directed  it,  fcff 

X 


242  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  simple  reason,  that  when  he  is  said  to  have  done  it  I  waskrgely 
in  advance  to  him  in  joint  speculations,  and  he  knew  that  I  felt 
no  disposition  to  be  any  more  so.  All  I  ask  of  my  friends  is,  to 
be  cautious  in  receiving  the  statements  of  this  deceitful  crea- 
ture, and  leave  me  to  manage  all  my  concerns  with  him.  To 
all  who  are  interested  1  can  exhibit  a  perfectly  clear  statement 
of  my  concerns,  and  satisfy  them  that  I  have  and  shall  act  up- 
rightly with  all  men. 

Benjamin  H.  Folger. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  Matthews  was  arraigned 
before  the  Court  of  Sessions,  on  an  indictment  found 
by  the  Grand  Jury,  setting  forth  in  substance  that 
"  The  said  Robert  Matthias,  devising  and  intending 
by  unlawful  ways  and  means  to  obtain  possession 
of  the  moneys,  goods,  chattels,  and  effects  of  divers 
good  people  of  the  state  of  New- York,  and  to  de- 
fraud and  cheat  Benjamin  H.  Folger,  did  falsely 
pretend  that  he  was  God  the  Father — had  power  to 
forgive  sins  and  to  communicate  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  that  if  the  said  B.  H.  Folger  would  provide 
him  with  money,  he  the  said  B.  H.  Folger  would 
have  God's  blessing.  That  the  said  B.  H.  Folger 
believing  those  representations,  gave  the  said  Mat- 
thias one  hundred  pieces  of  gold  coin,  of  the  value  of 
five  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  and  one  hundred  dol- 
lars in  bank  notes,  which  the  said  Matthias  feloniously 
received  by  means  of  the  false  pretences  aforesaid." 

Matthews  by  his  counsel  pleaded  not  guilty,  wav- 
ing whatever  legal  objections  might  be  taken  to  the 
indictment,  and  the  trial  was  postponed  until  the 
November  term.  Something  was  said  by  the  pris- 
oner's counsel  in  the  nature  of  an  application  for  his 
discharge  on  bail,  but  the  district  attorney  intimat- 
ing that  a  warrant  had  been  issued  in  Westchester 
county  against  Matthews  on  a  capital  charge  (for  the 


HIS  IMPOSTURES.  243 

murder  of  Mr.  Pierson)  the  application  was  not 
persisted  in,  and  he  was  remanded  to  prison. 

On  the  Sth  of  November  he  was  again  placed  at 
the  bar  of  the  court,  dressed  in  his  richest  and  most 
fantastic  garb,  with  his  pink-lined  green  coat,  crim- 
son sash,  lace-ruffles  at  his  wristbands,  a  silver 
sun  upon  the  left  and  stars  of  the  same  metal  on  the 
right  side  of  his  breast.  He  appeared  cheerful,  and 
conversed  freely  with  those  about  him. 

The  District  Attorney  intimated  to  the  court  that 
he  had  strong  doubts  whether  the  indictment  could 
be  sustained,  even  admitting  that  the  allegations  set 
forth  in  it  could  be  established.  He  had  laid  all 
the  facts  in  his  possession  before  the  Grand  Jury, 
and  stated  to  them  his  doubts  as  to  their  constitu- 
ting an  indictable  offence,  but  they  had  thought  it 
their  duty  to  tind  the  bill.  There  were  two  difficul- 
ties in  the  case  ;  to  make  out  an  indictable  oflence, 
it  would  be  necessary  to  show,  first,  that  the  repre- 
sentations made  by  Matthews  were  such  as  were 
calculated  to  impose  on  a  man  of  ordinary  prudence 
and  understanding,  and,  second,  that  they  were 
false  ;  and  both  these  matters  he  thought  it  would 
be  impossible  to  prove.  Things  might  be  averred 
which  the  majority  of  the  community  would  never 
believe — absurdities  at  which  reason  revolted  ;  but 
where  was  the  testimony  to  prove  them  false  ?  So 
far  as  the  prosecutor  was  concerned,  he  had  to  say 
that  the  gentleman  did  not  wish  the  case  to  proceed 
any  farther  ;  and  here  the  District  Attorney  read  the 
following  note  from  Mr.  Folger  to  his  counsel. 


244  MATTHIAS    AND 

"New-Yorh,  Oct.  23,  1834. 
"Dear  Sir, 
"  Mr.  Hoffman,  as  I  understand  you,  having  expressed  strong 
doubts  in  regard  to  the  indictment  against  Matthias  being  sus- 
tained, and  it  being  likewise  your  own,  as  well  as  that  of  several 
other  lawyers,  in  whose  opinions  I  have  confidence,  I  think  it 
would  be  best  to  discontinue  the  proceedings  altogether.  If  you 
think  it  is  proper,  do  so  ;  I  should  thuik  it  would  be  best  to  ask 
the  District  Attorney  to  dismiss  the  case— the  offence  charged 
upon  him  not  being  an  indictable  one — and  release  the  creature 
entirely.  His  day — so  far  as  passing  himself  for  a.  pure  and  yp- 
right  man— has  passed,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  his  imposing 
upon  any  one  here  or  elsewhere. 

"  With  respect  and  esteem,  j'ours, 

"  Benjamin  H.  Folger  " 

After  reading  this  document,  the  District  Attor- 
ney, saying  that  he  beUeved  the  indictment  could  not 
be  sustained,  and  that  farther  inquiry  would  only 
tend  to  make  Mr.  Folger  and  his  family  more  un- 
happy than  they  were  already,  moved  the  Court  to 
enter  a  Jiolle-jjroseqiii.  The  Court  said  they  would 
look  into  the  indictment,  and  decide  on  the  follow- 
ing Monday  whether  the  case  should  or  should  not 
be  proceeded  in. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  following 
note  from  Mr.  Folger  appeared  in  the  Commercial 
Advertiser. 

Neiv-York,  Novc?nber  8,  1834. 
Messrs.  Editors: — lam  informed  by  my  friends  that  the 
notice  in  the  morning  papers  of  the  proceedings  in  Court  in 
reference  to  Matthias,  has  led  some  to  suppose  that  I  have  re- 
lapsed into  a  belief  in  him  and  his  blasphemous  doctrines.  Lest 
it  should  be  so  supposed,  you  will  do  me  a  favour  to  state  dis- 
tinctly in  your  paper  of  this  evening  that  I  have  long  since  re- 
nounced his  doctrines  entirely,  and  believe  him  to  be  one  of  the 
most  base  and  deceitful  beings  on  earth.  This  is  likewise  the 
opinion  of  every  member  of  my  family,  and  my  object  is  now  to 
rid  myself  of  him  and  those  connected  with  him,  with  as  littlo 
trouble  as  possible.    Mr.  Pierson,  myself,  and  family,  have  beeii 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  245 

deeply,  very  deeply  deluded,  deceived,  and  imposed  upon  ;  and 
I  regret  exceedingly  that  the  former  could  not  have  been  spared 
to  witness  the  deep  deception.  We  are  sensible  of  our  error — ■ 
we  repent  it  sincerely  ;  and  although  we  cannot  expect  to  re- 
cover, at  present,  the  situation  which  we  held  in  society  previous 
to  our  acquaintance  with  this  vile  creature,  yet,  in  time,  we 
shall  be  able  to  show  that  we  are  enemies  to  him,  and  all  who 
undertake  to  sustain  hun  in  his  wickedness  and  plans  to  de- 
stroy us. 

Benj.\min  H.  Folger. 

On  Tuesday,  the  11th  of  November,  the  Re- 
corder, presiding  in  the  Court  of  Sessions,  on  being 
applied  to  by  the  District  Attorney  for  the  decision 
of  the  court  in  the  matter  of  the  indictment,  stated 
that  he  had  that  morning  received  a  warrant  from  a 
justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county  of  Westchester, 
with  an  endorsement  thereon  by  James  Hopson,  one 
of  the  pohce  magistrates  of  the  city  of  New-York, 
to  whom  it  had  been  sent  (according  to  the  requisi- 
sition  of  the  statute),  allowing  the  same  to  be  served 
in  the  city.  That  the  court  had  taken  the  whole 
matter  into  consideration,  and  had  arrived  at  the 
unanimous  conclusion  that  it  would  become  them  to 
yield  the  prisoner  first  for  trial  on  the  graver  charge  ; 
if  he  should  be  acquitted  on  that,  it  would  then  be 
time  for  the  court  to  act  on  the  minor  indictment. 

This  course  was  very  strenuously  opposed  by  the 
counsel  for  the  prisoner,  but  their  arguments  failed 
to  shake  the  determination  of  the  court,  and  Mat- 
thews was  accordingly  surrendered  into  the  custody 
of  the  sherifl*  of  Westchester. 

The  legal  proceedings  that  have  recently  taken 
place  respecting  him  in  that  county  will  form  the 
subject  of  the  ensuing  chapter.  Meantime,  there 
X2 


246  MATTHIAS    AND 

are  two  or  three  matters  belonging  to  the  history, 
which  will  be  disposed  of  in  the  present. 

From  the  bankruptcy  of  Mr.  Folger,  and  the 
melting  away  of  the  estate  of  Mr.  Pierson,  it  has 
been  supposed  that  Matthews  was  himself  the 
swindler.  Such,  however,  is  probably  not  the  fact, 
to  any  greater  extent  than  the  amount  of  money  ex- 
torted by  him  from  his  disciples,  to  lavish  in  pro- 
curing the  fantastical  decorations  of  his  person,  and 
the  means  of  his  voluptuous  living.  Mr.  Folger 
estimates  his  loss,  directly,  by  his  association  with 
Matthews,  at  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
His  failure  was  produced,  first,  by  the  withdrawal 
of  bank  accommodations,  in  consequence  of  the 
peculiar  state  of  mind  under  which  he  appeared  to 
be  labouring,  and,  secondly,  by  the  failure  of  a  friend 
for  whom  he  was  an  endorser.  The  following 
letter  from  him  to  one  of  the  household  at  Singsing, 
stated,  and  doubtless  truly,  the  immediate  cause  of 
his  stopping  payment.  It  also  throws  some  light 
upon  the  condition  of  his  own  mind  at  the  time.  It 
is  rather  light  and  gay  for  a  devotee,  and  the  con- 
cluding paragraph  shows  that  the  community  at 
Mount  Zion  were  not  ignorant  of  the  opinions  of 
the  world  as  to  the  disordered  state  of  their  intellects. 
It  is  without  date,  but  must  have  been  written  early 
in  March,  1834  : — 

"  '  Well,  Tommy,  how  does  thee  do,  now-a-days?' 

"  '  Sad,  sad  enough,  Benjamin,  for  the  hnttom  is  all  out  T 

"  The  above  was   my  salutation  of  Tommy  F -,  the  first 

time  I  met  him  after  his  failure.     I  am  reminded  of  it  just  now 

by  the  great  muss  things  are  getting  into  here.     Mr. ,  very 

unexpectedly  to  me,  and  himself  too,  determined  upon  stopping 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  247 

to-day  :  but  upon  my  insisting  that  he  should  demand  from  the 
holders  of  the  note  due  to-day  an  extension,  that  I  might  have 
time  to  put  things  right,  he  did  it ;  and  I  shall  continue  to  pay  until 

Wednesday  or  Saturday.     Mr. 's  failure  will  be  a  very  bad 

one.  He  will  not  be  able  to  protect  me  or  anybody  else  in  our 
endorsements,  and  there  is  not,  therefore,  any  escape  that  I  can 
see,  but  that  I  must  stop,  and  a  half-dozen  others.    But,  of  course, 

this  is  for  the  court  only.     I  have  written  Judge  K a  letter 

this  evening,  and  1  send  enclosed  a  copy  of  it,  which  please  read 
and  burn. 

"  It  is  quiet  in  Third-street,  when  Mrs.  A is  out  of  the 

room  (but  never  when  she  is  in  it),  as  a  churchyard  ;  and,  as  I 
am  rather  inchned  to  a  quiet  turn  of  lAind,  it  is  delightful !  One 
month  of  it,  I  should  think,  would  knock  the  bottom  out  of  Jew 
or  Gentile. 

"  Sanity  and  Insanity. — Everybody  thinks  his  neighbour  mad, 
if  his  pursuits  happen  to  be  opposite  to  his  own.  His  neighbour 
thinks  the  same  of  him :  but  then  these  two  kinds  of  madness 
do  not  interfere  with  each  other.  Then  there  comes  an  eccen- 
tric man,  who,  taking  a  just  view  of  things,  thinks  them  all  mad 
— him  they  would  lock  up.  1  appoint  Edward  to  kiss  the  whole 
tribe  for  me.    I  am  the  same 

One." 


Mr.  Folger  failed,  as  he  foresaw  he  must  do 
when  he  wrote  this  letter,  and  from  the  causes  men- 
tioned therein  and  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Pierson  and  Mr.  Folger  both  suffered  in 
their  estates  very  severely,  from  other  causes,  one 
of  which  tells  a  darker  tale  of  human  depravity,  than 
(aside  from  the  conduct  of  Matthews)  has  been  re- 
corded yet  in  the  present  volume.  There  is  no 
doubt  of  the  fact,  that  there  were  a  set  of  thorough- 
bred knaves  hanging  about  the  skirts  of  Pierson  and 
Folger — more  especially  the  former — a  knot  of  har- 
pies, who,  availing  themselves  of  the  delusion  by 
which  those  gentlemen  were  blinded,  sported  with 
their  credulity  under  pretext  of  joining  the  associa- 
tion, but  in  reality  to  plunder  them  of  their  property. 


248  MATTHIAS    AND 

Such  an  impression  has  long  been  entertained  by 
those  conversant  with  their  pecuniary  concerns,  and 
Ivhen  circumstances  previously  known  are  com- 
pared with  some  of  the  private,  but  imperfect, 
memoranda  left  by  Mr.  Pierson,  the  proof  is  as 
clear  as  could  be  desired,  that  there  was  indeed  a 
combination  of  robbers  who  plundered  them,  though 
the  evidence  is  not  exactly  such  as  can  bring  home 
the  facts,  in  a  legal  form,  to  a  court  and  jury.  The 
loose  papers  just  referred  to,  contain  various  entries 
of  moneys  advanced,  or  rather  given,  to  these  people. 
To  one  individual,  on  a  certain  occasion,  he  gave 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  by  direction,  as  he 
supposed,  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  with  a  promise 
from  the  same  source  that  he  should  receive  three 
fold  in  return.  Pierson  and  Folger  were  likewise 
inveigled  into  various  unfortunate  speculations  in 
patented  inventions,  by  which  many  sums  of  money 
were  lost.  What  some  of  these  unlucky  adventures 
were,  the  reader  will  discover  by  the  following  prayer, 
taken  from  the  papers  of  the  former  :^ — 


Nov.  12th,  1833.  Spirit  of  Truth!  guide  us  into  the  right  way 
concerning  the  globe  stove,  self-loading  cart,  [and]  planing  ma- 
chine. Manifest  thy  mind  concerning  these  things,  that  we  may 
know  and  do  thy  pleasure. 

I  ask  that  the  evil  spirits  may  have  no  power  to  hinder  the 
successful  and  beneficial  operation  of  these  things. 

O  Lord  God,  let  not  the  enemies  triumph  over  us,  but  send 
help,  such  as  is  needed. 

We  [1]  consecrate  the  gain  to  the  building  of  thy  kingdom. 
Now,  Lord  God,  hear  this  my  prayer. 

They  likewise  embarked  to  a  considerable  extent 
in  speculations  of  real  estate — always  under  the  di- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  249 

rection  of  the  Holy  Spirit — Mr.  Pierson  having  the 
vision,  and  Mr.  Folger  making  the  purchases  and 
sales.  These  were  not  all  unsuccessful,  but  no 
very  great  profits  were  realized.  And  even  had 
there  been,  the  avails  would  have  been  swallowed 
up  in  the  stock  operations  which  Mr.  Pierson  sup- 
posed he  was  making  by  the  same  Divine  direction. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  one  of  his  spiritual 
missives,  to  Mr.  Folger,  to  purchase  stock  : — 

Jtineo,  1833.  Wrote  to  B.  H.  Folger:  "Now  is  the  accepted 
time ;  buy  three  hundred  shares.  Let  it  be  left  with  thee  to 
sell,  and  I  will  direct.  More  than  ten  will  be  obtained  for  it. 
Cost,  105  per  cent." 

The  stock  was  purchased,  and  a  heavy  loss  was 
the  consequence.  But  enough  has  been  written 
upon  this  branch  of  the  subject,  and  it  is  time  to 
shift  the  scene. 


260  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Trial  of  Matthews  before  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  in 
Westchester — First,  as  to  the  question  of  his  sanity — Second, 
on  the  indictment  for  murder — Third,  for  the  assault  and  bat- 
tery upon  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Laisdell. 

The  warrant  upon  which  Matthews  had  been  sur- 
rendered by  the  civil  authorities  of  New- York  to 
those  of  the  county  of  Westchester,  was  issued 
upon  information  as  to  the  circumstances  attending 
Mr.  Pierson's  death,  contained  in  the  deposition  of 
Mrs.  Dratch — the  female  mentioned  in  the  narra- 
tive of  Mr.  Folger,  who  came  to  their  residence 
during  the  illness  of  the  deceased,  and  remained 
there  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Dratch,  it  will  be  re- 
collected, came  there  for  pecuniary  assistance.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  deposition  referred  to : 

"  Mrs.  Dratch  testifies,  that  on  the  11th  of  August,  1834,  she 
came  from  New-York,  with  the  intention  of  visiting  Mr.  Pier- 
son,  he  having  been  many  years  her  particular  friend.  When 
she  reached  his  house,  she  saw  Matthias,  who  appeared  to  be 
much  excited,  and  told  her  that  Mr.  Pierson  was  sick,  and  that 
she  could  not  then  see  him.  But  on  repeating  her  request,  was 
put  off,  and  answered  by  Matthias,  that  when  Mr.  Pierson  came 
from  the  bath,  she  might  see  him.  When  night  came  on,  she 
was  urged  by  Matthias  to  go  to  bed,  which  she  did  from  fear, 
and  slept  but  little,  and  in  the  morning  was  told  that  Mr.  Pier- 
son was  dead,  but  no  one  could  tell  by  what  means;  but  she 
heard  him  utter  several  groans  during  the  night,  and  in  the 
morning,  when  she  arose,  was  told  by  Matthias  that  he  was 


KIS    IMPOSTURES.  251 

dead.  No  person  in  the  house  could  tell  how  he  came  by  his 
death,  and  she  has  the  impression  on  her  mind,  that  Matthias 
has,  by  some  means,  been  instrumental  in  his  death.  And  hav- 
ing seen  the  certihcate  of  four  respectable  physicians,  that  some 
unwholesome  or  deadly  substance  was  found  in  the  stomach  of 
Pierson,  she  founds  her  belief  thereon  that  he  has  been  pois- 
oned, and  therefore  on  this  evidence  the  undersigned  gave  his 
warrant.  "  Charles  Yeo,  Westchester  county." 

The  reader  would  hardly  suppose  from  the  terms 
of  this  deposition,  that  the  informant  was  on  such 
apparently  friendly  terms  with  Matthews,  during  the 
illness  of  her  friend  and  benefactor,  as  appeared  to 
be  the  case  while  she  was  there.  Still,  upon  such 
testimony,  and  from  the  evidence  of  the  physicians 
who  examined  the  body  of  the  deceased,*  the  Grand 
Jury  was  unquestionably  right  in  finding  a  bill. 

Thursday  the  16th  of  April,  1835,  was  assigned 
for  the  trial  of  Matthews  on  the  indictment  for  the 
murder  of  Mr.  Pierson,  but  on  account  of  the  ab- 
sence of  witnesses  the  case  was  deferred  until  the 
next  day.  On  returning  from  the  Court  to  the  jail, 
he  was  asked  how  he  felt,  and  answered,  "  I  feel 
that  the  Lord  is  my  stay,  and  will  be  my  exceeding 
great  reward — like  gold  seven  times  refined  shall  I 
come  out  of  this  fiery  furnace  ;  but  as  I  have  lost 
my  dinner,  I  am  now  hungry  and  weak,  and  should 
like  to  have  a  bite  of  something."  He  refused  to 
shake  hands  with  any  person,  saying,  "  Know  ye  not 
that  it  is  written,  *  touch  not  the  prophet  of  the 
Lord  V  "  A  young  man  coming  to  the  door  of  his 
cell  expressed  a  wish  "to  have  a  peep  at  the  old 


*  For  the  statement  of  Dr.  Condit,  written  by  himself  fox 
this  work,  see  Appendix. 


252  MATTHIAS    AND 

devil ;"  and  Matthews  sternly  rebuked  him,  saying, 
"  Young  man,  I  wonder  your  tongue  does  not  cleave 
to  your  mouth,  thus  to  address  ihe  prophet  of  the 
Lord.  But  it  is  as  in  the  time  of  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth, when  they  said  '  he  hath  a  devil/  " 

During  his  confinement  he  had  issued  a  decree 
commanding  all  the  farmers  to  lay  aside  their 
ploughs,  declaring,  "As  I  live,  there  shall  be  no  more 
sowing  in  the  earth  until  I,  the  twelfth  and  last  of  the 
apostles,  am  delivered  out  of  the  house  of  bond- 
age." He  also  prophesied  that  if  he  were  con- 
victed. White  Plains  should  be  destroyed  by  an 
earthquake,  and  not  an  inhabitant  be  left  to  tell  the 
tale  of  its  destruction  ;  and  strange  to  say,  men 
were  not  found  wanting  who  believed  in  his  absurd 
and  blasphemous  predictions. 

Previous  to  his  removal  on  the  day  above  men- 
tioned, he  addressed  the  Court,  although  informed 
he  must  be  silent  and  leave  his  cause  in  the  hands 
of  his  counsel,  vociferating  in  a  loud  voice,  "  I  pro- 
test against  the  proceedings — I  learn  that  evidence 
has  been  taken  in  secret  before  the  Grand  Jury — I 
object  to  all  secret  institutions,  for  they  are  cursed 
of  God — cursed  of  God,  and  were  dissolved  five 
years  ago.''  These  last  words  were  uttered  in  a 
loud  voice,  and  with  such  extravagance  of  gesture 
that  the  Court  ordered  him  to  be  removed  ;  a  com- 
mand to  which  he  submitted  very  readily,  but,  on 
reaching  the  door,  burst  forth  at  the  utmost  power 
of  his  loud,  shrill  voice,  repeating,  "  Dissolved,  dis- 
solved, dissolved,"  until  he  was  borne  away. 

There  is  some  reason  to  suppose  that  he  did  not 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  253 

commit  these  extravagances  without  a  motive ;  at 
all  events,  their  effect  was  to  induce  the  court,  on 
the  suggestion  of  his  counsel  that  he  was  insane,  to 
direct  the  trial  of  that  issue,  before  proceeding  to  the 
charge  of  murder ;  and  a  jury  was  accordingly  em- 
panelled tor  that  purpose. 

The  first  witness  examined  as  to  his  sanity  or  in- 
sanity, was  Dr.  Martyn  Paine,  of  New-York,  who 
stated  his  belief  that  Matthews  was  not  of  sound 
mind,  forming  his  opinion  partly  from  the  extrava- 
gant notions  entertained  by  the  prisoner,  but  still 
more  from  the  manner  in  which  he  expressed  them. 
He  inferred  insanity,  also,  from  a  peculiar  expres- 
sion of  the  prisoner's  eye,  which  it  was  difficult  to 
describe,  but  which  was  ahnost  invariably  found  in 
men  of  disordered  intellect.  Dr.  Paine  stated, 
hovvever,  that  Matthews  himself  denied  that  he  was 
insane,  and  evidently  understood  what  he  was  doing ; 
and  that  his  memory  was  sound  and  clear. 

Dr.  David  L.  Rogers,  of  New- York,  had  seen 
the  prisoner  for  the  first  time  on  the  preceding  Tues- 
day. Dr.  Rogers  repeated  his  conversation  with 
the  prisoner,  in  which  the  wild  and  extravagant  no- 
tions of  the  latter  were  detailed  at  length,  and  in 
which  he  had  stated,  among  other  absurdities,  that 
he  had  a  controlling  power  over  political  affairs ; 
that  he  possessed  the  spirit  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  ; 
that  if  Mr.  Pierson  had  confided  in  him  he  would 
have  been  saved  from  death ;  but  that  he  (Pierson) 
had  lost  the  spirit  he  had  once  possessed  by  preach- 
ing it  away ;  that  he  had  been  possessed  of  a  mer- 
cantile spirit,  which  he  had  given  to  Mr.  Folger, 
Y 


254  MATTHIAS    AND 

and  became  good  for  nothing  himself;  and  that 
Pierson's  palsy  had  resulted  from  the  loss  of  his 
spirit.  Dr.  Rogers  concurred  with  Dr.  Paine  in 
looking  upon  Matthews  as  an  insane  man. 

Dr.  Myers  also  entertained  the  same  opinion, 
forming  it  from  the  prisoner's  language  and  wild 
notions.  The  prisoner  had  alleged  himself  to  be 
Jesus  Christ;  said  that  heaven  and  hell  were  in 
every  man's  breast ;  that  the  angels  were  subject 
to  him  (Matthews),  and  he  would  send  them  where 
he  pleased,  &c. 

Several  other  witnesses,  not  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession, were  of  the  same  opinion  as  to  the  pris- 
oner's insanity. 

Andrew  Wight,  of  the  city  of  New-York,  stated 
that  he  had  known  Matthews  for  twenty  years  (Mat- 
thews having  married  his  sister),  and  had  lived  with 
him  about  two  years.  This  was  soon  after  pris- 
oner's marriage.  He  had  not  seen  him  after  this, 
until  he  visited  him  in  Albany,  about  seven  years 
ago,  when  witness  found  him  very  enthusiastic  and 
somewhat  wild  on  the  subject  of  religion  and  tem- 
perance ;  said  that  he  had  got  a  new  light ;  ab- 
stained from  animal  food,  and  subsisted  upon  fruits 
and  vegetables.  Witness  did  not  see  him  again 
until  three  years  afterward,  when  he  wore  his  pecu- 
liar dress  and  beard,  but  was  perfectly  sane,  so  far 
as  witness  could  judge.  Witness  told  him  he  ought 
not  to  have  abandoned  his  family,  whereupon  Mat- 
thews grew  very  angry,  consigned  him  to  the  devil, 
and  said  that  he  had  burned  his  fingers  by  coming 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  255 

to  witness's  house.  Witness  was  now  disposed  to 
think  him  partially  deranged. 

The  first  witness  called  by  the  prosecuting  at- 
torney, was  Mr.  Anderson,  who  said  he  had  seen 
^latthews  six  or  eight  times,  but  had  never  had 
much  conversation  with  him  until  the  preceding 
Saturday.  The  result  of  the  conversation  was  an 
impression  that  Matthews  was  perfectly  sane,  ex- 
cept on  the  subject  of  religion. 

Edward  D.  Johnson  thought  Matthews  sane  and 
a  rogue ;  was  led  to  this  opinion  by  detecting  an 
expression  in  his  eye,  while  in  conversation,  which 
convinced  him  that  Matthews  was  an  impostor ; 
there  was  a  roll  in  his  eye  when  excited,  which  gave 
place  to  a  fixedness  when  he  wanted  to  evade  an 
answer,  as  if  he  were  glancing  through  a  train  of 
argument,  and  when  he  came  to  the  end  of  it  his 
eye  would  roll  again. 

Joseph  Miller  believed  Matthews  an  enthusiast 
and  an  impostor,  but  not  an  insane  man.  Mat- 
thews had  told  him  that  he  was  present  when  the 
Bible  was  written. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  S.  Prime  had  known  Matthews 
in  Washington  County  in  1813  or  1814,  and  had 
seen  him  two  or  three  times  in  Singsing  within  the 
last  year  and  a  half:  considered  him  a  sane  man: 
had  seen  him  exhibit  fear  when  in  a  situation  of  per- 
sonal danger,  and  this  he  considered  a  strong  test 
of  sanity. 

Jesse  Bishop  had  often  seen  Matthews  at  Sing- 
sing,  and  had  commercial  dealings  with  him  ;  found 
him  sharp  at  a  bargain,  and  that  he  managed  his  af- 


256  MATTHIAS    AND 

fairs  well.  Could  see  no  difference  between  him 
and  other  men,  when  he  chose  to  behave  rationally. 

Doctors  Paine  and  Rogers  being  recalled  by  the 
prisoner's  counsel,  stated  that  insane  persons  are 
generally  more  easily  intimidated  than  men  of  right 
mind.  After  which  the  jury  were  charged  by  the 
court,  retired  to  their  room,  and  returned  in  about 
five  minutes  with  a  verdict  that  the  prisoner  was 
not  insane.  The  opinion  of  the  writer  on  the  ques- 
tion thus  decided  by  the  jury,  will  be  expressed  else- 
where. 

On  Friday,  the  17th,  he  was  again  brought  up  for 
trial  on  the  indictment,  and,  after  the  facts  expected 
to  be  proved  had  been  stated  by  the  District  Attorney, 
Jesse  Bishop  w^as  called  as  the  first  witness.  He 
stated  that  he  had  known  the  prisoner  and  Mr.  Pier- 
son  at  Singsing,  his  residence  being  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  that  place.  Mr.  Pierson  and  the 
prisoner  appeared  to  have  the  control  of  the  estab- 
lishment. Witness  saw  the  dead  body  of  Mr.  Pier- 
son,  about  the  first  week  in  August,  laid  out  on  a 
board,  in  a  room  in  the  south  part  of  Mr.  Folger's 
house.  It  was  covered  with  a  sheet ;  the  eyes  and 
mouth  were  open.  The  prisoner,  Mrs.  Folger,  the 
woman  named  Catharine,  Mr.  Pierson's  daughter 
Elizabeth,  and  a  hired  man  named  Louis  Basil,  were 
also  present.  Witness  went  there  at  the  written  re- 
quest of  the  prisoner,  to  assist  in  burying  Mr.  Pier- 
son.  There  were  bruises  on  the  knees  of  the  body, 
but  otherwise  it  was  in  a  natural  condition.  One 
of  the  hands  was  closed,  but  there  was  no  distortion 
of  the  eyes  or  of  the  limbs.     "Witness  had  heard 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  257 

the  prisoner  direct  Pierson  about  a  job  of  work  as 
he  would  a  hired  man.  Heard  him  on  one  occasion 
order  Pierson  to  remove  some  poles,  and  when  it 
was  not  done  promptly,  the  prisoner  said,  "  when  he 
wanted  a  job  done,  he  wished  it  done  thoroughly." 
Witness  once  saw  Mr.  Pierson  and  the  prisoner  on 
the  road,  going  towards  the  house,  the  former  walk- 
ing before  the  latter,  who  was  riding  one  horse  and 
leading  another,  which  was  saddled.  Did  not  per- 
ceive any  traces  of  ill-will  between  them. 

Moses  Cheny  stated  that  he  was  sexton,  and  had 
charge  of  the  burying-ground  at  Morristown  in 
New-Jersey,  in  which  Mr.  Pierson  was  interred  on 
the  8th  of  August.  About  ten  days  afterward  the 
body  was  exhumed,  and  examined  by  Dr.  Condit, 
who  took  out  the  stomach  and  carried  it  away. 
The  body  was  then  buried  again,  but  taken  up  once 
more,  five  or  six  weeks  before  the  trial,  and  ex- 
amined by  other  physicians. 

Dr.  Lewis  Condit  stated  that  the  body  of  Mr. 
Pierson  was  disinterred  in  his  presence  on  the  18th 
of  August.  The  surface  was  of  a  dark  chocolate 
colour,  and  the  face  nearly  black.  He  took  out  the 
stomach,  which  seemed  less  changed  than  any  of  the 
surrounding  parts.  Its  texture  was  firm  and  unim- 
paired— when  first  viewed  it  was  contracted  into  a 
small  mass  and  apparently  empty.  Externally,  its 
colour  was  scarcely  changed,  except  in  its  anterior 
portion  near  the  lower  orifice,  where  it  showed  a 
redness.  The  body  was  very  offensive,  but  putre- 
faction had  not  commenced  in  the  stomach,  and  as 
Y2 


258  MATTHIAS    AND 

there  were  traces  of  inflammation  on  its  outer  sun 
face,  he  took  it  home  for  farther  examination. 

On  opening  it,  he  found  near  the  lower  orifice,  or 
pylorus,    a    substance    resembling    wet    chalk,    or 
calomel,  of  a  dingy  whitish  colour,  in  quantity  equal 
to  eight  or  ten  grains  of  calomel.      A  spot  or  pa'ch 
of  a  bright  red  colour,  about  three  inches  in  diameter, 
was  found  on  the  fore-part  of  the  stomach,  on  the 
inner  surface,  corresponding  with  a  similar  red  spot 
on  the  outside  ;  and  it  was  here  that  the  v.  hilish  sub- 
stance was  found.      Half  an  inch  higher  was  an- 
other red  spot,  about  half  as  large  as  the  first,  and 
near  them  both  were  three  or  four  others,  about  the 
size  of  a  twenty-five  cent  piece,  and  of  a  dark  brown 
colour.      The  mucous  membrane,  or  inner  coat  of 
the  stomach,  immediately  under  these  spots,  was 
soft,  pulpy,  and  disorganized.      Under  this   mem- 
brane extravasated  blood  was  found,  which  gave  the 
dark  colour  to   the  brown   spots.      The   muscular 
coat,  beneath  this  extravasated  blood,  was  of  a  bright 
red  colour,  with  increased  thickness  of  substance, 
and  enlargement  of  blood  vessels.     The  stomach 
contained  nothing  except  the  powder  above  men- 
tioned,   and    a   small    quantity    of   mucus.       The 
stomach,  with  the  powder,  was  placed  in  a  close  jar, 
and  sent  to  Dr.  Torrey  of  Nev/-York,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  analyzed. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1835,  the  body  was  again 
disinterred,  and  found  to  be  considerably  advanced 
in  decay.  The  ccsophagu?,  or  gullet,  was  taken 
out,  as  were  also  portions  of  the  intestines,  and  car- 
ried home  for  examination.     The  oesophagus  was 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  259 

found  reddened  in  its  upper  portion,  and  somewhat 
thickened,  but  the  remainder  presented  a  natural 
appearance.  The  intestines  were  firm  and  unyield- 
ing, showing  no  traces  of  redness  or  decay.  It  was 
remarked  on  opening  the  abdomen,  immediately 
over  the  intestines,  that  the  flesh  was  not  more  de- 
composed than  it  usually  is  in  subjects  a  few  days 
after  death.  But  little  offensive  odour  was  perceived 
at  the  grave,  and  that  of  the  intestines,  on  opening 
them,  was  precisely  like  the  smell  of  smoked  her- 
rings. 

Both  of  the  examinations  were  made  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  same  physicians,  namely.  Doctors  Can- 
field,  Johns,  and  the  two  Condits  ;  and  they  were 
unanimously  of  opinion,  after  the  first,  that  the  death 
of  Mr.  Pierson  was  not  the  result  of  natural  causes, 
or  of  any  known  disease,  and  that  there  was  great 
reason  to  believe  that  it  had  been  occasioned  by 
some  poisonous  substance.  This  opinion  was  re- 
duced to  writing,  and  signed  by  them  all.  They 
were  all  subpoenaed  to  attend  the  trial,  and  all  at- 
tended except  Dr.  Canfield  ;  but  only  the  two  Doc- 
tors Condit  were  examined,  and  their  examination 
was  limited  almost  exclusively  to  the  appearances 
of  the  stomach.  They  were  not  called  upon  to  cite 
authorities,  or  to  show  the  reasons  on  which  their 
opinion  was  founded. 

Dr.  Nathan  W.  Condit  was  then  examined,  and 
confirmed  the  statements  of  the  last  witness  as  to 
the  appearance  of  the  body,  stomach,  oesophagus, 
and  intestines.  He  was  led  to  suspect  poison,  but 
he  could  not  say  positively  that  poison  had  been 


260  MATTHIAS    AND 

administered.  The  appearances  certainly  indicated 
poison,  but  he  should  consider  the  detection  of  it 
necessary  to  produce  conviction  that  it  had  been 
used. 

[The  District  Attorney  consented  to  admit  that 
Dr.  Torrey  had  examined  the  stomach  of  the  de- 
ceased Mr.  Pierson,  and  Avas  unable  to  discover 
any  poison  in  it.] 

Mrs.  Ann  Folger  was  the  next  witness,  but  as 
her  testimony  corresponded  fully  and  throughout  to 
the  statement  already  very  minutely  given  in  this 
volume,  in  that  part  of  it  which  is  indicated  as  the 
narrative  of  INIr.  and  INIrs.  Folger,  it  is  here  omit- 
ted, with  the  exception  of  some  few  particulars  not, 
it  is  believed,  distinctly  included  in  the  narrative. 
We  give  them  in  her  own  language,  as  taken  down 
by  the  reporter. 

"  I  had  heard  of  Matthews,  and  received  his  doc- 
trines through  ]Mr.  Pierson,  before  I  knew  him  per- 
sonally. Mr.  Pierson  was  a  firm  believer  in  his 
doctrines,  so  far  as  I  could  judge.  I  also  became 
a  believer  in  them  generally  ;  but  Mr.  Folger  was 
more  disposed  to  doubt  than  either  Mr.  Pierson  or 
myself.  Catharine  Galloway  was  also  a  believer, 
and  acted  as  such.  Those  in  the  house  who  be- 
lieved in  him,  considered  him  their  Father,  and  as 
God  the  Father,  possessing  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
all  power  to  bestow  his  Spirit  on  whom  he  would. 
We  also  believed  that  he  had  power  to  execute 
wrath,  and  regarded  him  as  the  last  trumpet,  an- 
swering to  all  the  angels  of  wrath,  or  executing  an- 
gels spoken  of  in  the  Revelations.     He  claimed  all 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  261 

these  powers  ;  and  we  believed  that  he  not  only 
could,  but  did  possess  the  power  of  casting  out  de- 
vils. He  claimed  this  power,  and  averred  that  he 
had  cast  out  devils.  We  were  required  to  obey  his 
commands  in  all  things,  for  he  said  that  he  had  a 
right  to  be  obeyed.  He  had  the  command  of  every 
thing  in  the  household.  I  would  go  to  him  some- 
times for  directions,  and  he  would  say  that  the  spirit 
would  direct,  and  then  I  would  await  his  answer. 
If  I  did  not  conform  to  his  wishes,  he  would  say 
that  although  I  had  his  spirit,  I  had  also  a  spirit 
somewhere  else.  When  displeased,  he  was  exceed- 
ingly violent,  of  which  his  conduct  in  Court  yester- 
day is  but  a  faint  specimen.  He  would  curse  us 
bitterly,  and  tell  us  we  were  lost  creatures  ;  and  we 
believed  him.  He  said  he  would  save  us,  but  we 
must  get  rid  of  the  evil  spirit,  and  have  a  better  one, 
which  he  would  give  us,  if  we  asked  for  it.  He 
attended  to  all  the  temporalities  of  the  house,  and 
we  held  ourselves  responsible  to  him  for  all  that  was 
done. 

"  In  August  last,  when  Mr.  Pierson  died,  he 
claimed  to  own  the  house  and  property.  There 
had  been  some  ill-will  between  them,  which  began 
when  Matthews  was  ordered  away  from  Singsing. 
He  censured  Mr.  Pierson,  among  other  things,  for 
not  tilling  the  ground.  He  claimed  the  first-fruits 
of  every  thing — of  the  chickens,  and  the  peas  in  the 
garden  ;  but  if  he  was  not  at  home,  we  used  them 
until  he  returned.  He  claimed  the  first  of  every 
thing  at  table,  and  had  a  coadi  and  horses  at  his 
exclusive  command.     I  was  told  once  by  him  and 


262  MATTHIAS    AND 

Mr.  Pierson,  that  when  he  went  out  riding  one  day 
and  stopped  to  water  their  horses,  Mr.  Pierson's 
horse  would  he  down  in  the  brook,  whereupon  he 
got  oif  and  walked  because  the  horse  was  wet.  The 
farm  was  wholly  managed  by  Matthews,  and  Mr. 
Pierson  would  not  put  any  seed  in  the  ground  until 
directed  to  do  so  by  him.  Mr.  Pierson  died  on  the 
5th  of  August,  between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning. 

"  When  Mr.  Pierson  ate  the  blackberries,  he  ap- 
peared to  be  the  special  object  of  Matthews'  censure, 
because  '  he  had  helped  himself  to  more  than  his 
share.  It  was  the  prisoner's  ordinary  practice  to 
set  food  apart  for  himself,  and  any  one  who  dipped 
his  hand  in  the  same  dish  with  him  was  considered 
a  Judas. 

"  When  Mr.  Pierson  was  ill  and  dying,  the  reason 
why  nothing  was  done  for  him,  was,  because  we 
thought  the  evil  spirit  must  be  mortified  and  torment- 
ed until  it  should  come  out  of  him.  We  all  sin- 
cerely wished  his  recovery,  but  nothing  was  done 
for  him  except  washing  his  head  and  putting  him  in 
the  bath.  No  physician  was  sent  for,  because  Mat- 
thews held  that  physicians,  ministers,  and  lawyers, 
were  the  greatest  evils  in  the  world.  I  sincerely 
believed  that  there  was  no  need  of  any  medicine  to 
cure  Mr.  Pierson.  If  I  had  depended  on  my  own 
strength  and  experience,  I  should  have  resorted  to 
the  same  means  for  his  recovery  that  I  had  before 
been  accustomed  to  ;  but  my  confidence  was  then 
in  Matthews,  who,  I  thought,  would  deliver  him ; 
and  we  all  believed  that  if  we  cried  or  called  might- 


HIS    IMPOSTUPwES.  263 

3y  upon  the  Father,  he  would  be  cured.  I  consid- 
ered myself  a  woman  of  prayer,  but  we  were  for- 
bidden to  pray  to  any  God  but  Matthews.  I  did 
not  think  Mr.  Pierson's  life  in  danger,  for  I  believed 
he  would  live  for  ever.  I  also  believed  that  the  last 
enemy  to  be  destroyed  was  death,  and  that  Mat- 
thews had  come  to  destroy  that  enemy.  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  fits  were  called  by  Matthews  'fifty  devils.' 
After  they  had  become  more  violent  at  Singsing, 
there  was  a  twisting  of  the  arm  and  head,  and  he 
died  in  that  position.  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Pierson's 
daughter,  although  somewhat  fickle,  was  obedient 
and  afTectionate  to  her  father.  She  also  obeyed 
Matthews,  and  was  a  believer. 

"  It  was  understood  that  the  Father  held  all  the 
property  for  the  benefit  of  those-  who  belonged  to 
the  kingdom.  A  community  of  interest  in  all  the 
property  was  part  of  the  doctrine,  but  no  one  pre- 
sumed to  call  any  part  of  it  his  or  her  own,  except 
Matthews.  lie  would  often  say  to  me,  '  How  dare 
you  say  so  to  me  in  my  house  V  He  was  severe 
and  offended  if  the  house,  and  every  thing  in  it,  were 
not  called  his  own." 

The  District  Attorney  then  produced  in  evidence 
a  lease  from  Mr.  Pierson  to  the  prisoner,  of  the 
house  and  farm  at  Mount  Zion,  near  Singsing,.for 
the  term  of  ninety-nine  years,  at  (he  rent  of  one  dol- 
lar per  annum,  subject  to  a  mortgage  of  thirty- five 
hundred  dollars  ;  and  a  surrender  of  this  lease,  exe- 
cuted by  the  prisoner  on  the  first  of  August,  1834, 
in  favour  of  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Pier- 


264  MATTHIAS    AND 

son.*  Also,  a  bill  of  sale  of  all  the  personal  property 
at  Mount  Zion,  amounting  to  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-one  dollars  and  fifty-eight  cents,  a  bill  of  sale 
and  inventory  of  Mr.  Pierson's  furniture  &c.  in  the 
house  No.  8  Third-street,  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
executed  on  the  twenty-third  of  December,  1833. 
The  object  of  these  transfers,  as  stated  in  the  in- 
struments, was  to  aid  in  setting  up  the  kingdom  of 
God.  The  value  of  the  property  in  New- York  was 
stated  in  the  inventory  to  be  twenty-five  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  dollars. 

Catharine  Galloway  was  next  examined.  She 
stated  that  she  was  the  wife  of  a  man  who  had  lived 
as  a  servant  in  the  house  of  Mr.  M.  H.  S.  while 
the  prisoner  resided  there,  and  was  a  believer  in 
him  before  his  acquaintance  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Folger :  that  she  went  to  live  at  Mount  Zion  in 
February  preceding  the  death  of  Mr.  Pierson,  and 
remained  there  until  after  his  death.  She  firmly 
believed  in  the  doctrines  of  Matthews,  and  stated 
them,  as  also  his  conduct,  exactly  as  they  were  set 
forth    by    Mrs.    Folger.       She    was    reluctant    to 


*  The  attention  of  the  writer  has  been  directed  to  the  conduct 
of  Matthews,  touching  these  conveyances  of  the  real  estate  at 
Singsing,  as  going  to  prove  his  sanity,  by  a  professional  gentle- 
man well  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  the  enthusiasts.  Mat- 
thews, it  is  said,  first  took  a  deed  of  the  pieinises;  but  recol- 
lecting that  in  the  contingency  of  his  death  his  widow  would  be 
entitled  to  dower  in  this  estate,  he  gave  up  the  deed  and  took  the 
lease  for  ninety-nine  years.  This  lease  he  bad  surrendered  ;  as 
just  mentioned  in  evidence,  but  in  a  conversation  with  the  pro- 
fessional gentleman  referred  to,  he  declared  he  had  been  com- 
f)elled  to  give  it  up  under  duress ;  the  act  was  therefore  not  of 
egal  and  binding  force  upon  him  ;  and  he  avowed  his  deter- 
minaiion  to  claim  and  recover  the  property  after  his  release. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  265 

go  into  the  room  where  the  bath  was  ordered  by 
Matthews  for  Mr.  Pierson,  but  he  looked  hard  at 
her,  and  she  said,  "  Father,  I  will  go,  ii"  you  say 
so  ;"  he  replied,  "  I  say  so  ;"  and  she  went  in  and 
assisted  in  bringing  water.  When  she  heard  Mr. 
Pierson  fa!!,  she  was  induced  to  rise  from  her  chair 
and  say,  "  Father,  shall  I  go  ?"  and  he  said,  "  No  ; 
you  are  always  the  first  to  go."  She  accordingly 
sat  down  again.  She  saw  Mr.  Pierson  while  they 
were  giving  him  the  bath,  but  not  again  until  after 
he  was  dead.  She  did  not  recollect  that  any  quarrel 
had  taken  place  between  Matthews  and  him  imme- 
diately before  his  death.  When  Matthews  was  dis- 
pleased with  any  members  of  the  community  he 
would  curse  them,  and  say  they  should  be  chained 
in  the  bottomless  pit,  of  which  he  had  the  key  ; 
sometimes  he  would  threaten  them  with  annihilation. 
He  taught  them  that  sickne.-ss  was  caused  by  spirits, 
which  were  to  be  driven  out  by  prayer  and  resistance ; 
she  was  treated  in  that  way  when  she  was  ill,  and 
so  were  all  the  other  members  of  the  household. 
None  were  permitted  to  have  any  medicine,  but 
they  were  required  to  have  faith  in  Matthews,  who 
would  remove  all  their  ailments. 

The  testimony  was  here  closed  ;  the  prisoner's 
counsel  moved  for  his  discharge,  on  the  ground  that 
no  evidence  had  been  produced  to  convict  him  either 
of  murder  or  manslaughter ;  and  the  District  At- 
torney replied,  being  several  times  interrupted  by 
the  prisoner,  who  exclaimed,  "  that's  a  lie — all  a 
lie !"  in  relation  to  particular  statements  made  by 
the  gentleman.  The  court  decided  that  sufficient 
Z 


266  MATTHIAS    AND 

testimony  had  not  been  produced  to  carry  the  charge 
of  murder  to  the  jury,  but  it  was  proper  for  them  to 
determine  whether  the  prisoner  was  or  was  not 
guilty  of  manslaughter,  as  having  had  the  control  of 
the  establishment,  and  stood  in  such  a  relation  to 
the  deceased  as  to  make  it  his  duty  to  provide  him 
with  proper  medical  attendance.  The  court  were 
inclined  to  the  opinion  that  a  verdict  of  guilty  could 
not  be  rendered,  inasmuch  as  the  weight  of  the  evi- 
dence would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  the  death 
of  the  deceased  was  the  result  of  illness  with  which 
he  had  been  for  some  time  afflicted,  and  which  would 
probably  have  proved  fatal  even  without  the  neglect 
and  ill-treatment  disclosed  in  the  testimony.  If  it 
could  be  shown  that  his  death  was  hastened  by  this 
ill-treatment,  the  prisoner  was  guilty  of  manslaughter 
in  the  fourth  degree  ;  but  the  court  were  of  opinion 
that  sufficient  evidence  had  not  been  produced  to 
prove  that  such  was  the  case. 

The  counsel  for  the  prosecution  then  proposed  to 
re-examine  Dr.  Condit  on  the  direct  question, 
"  Whether,  in  his  opinion,  the  death  of  Mr.  Pierson 
\vas  caused  by  want  of  care,  or  nursing,  or  any  of 
the  kind  offices  of  humanity  requisite  for  a  person  in 
his  condition  ?"  The  counsel  for  the  prisoner  ob- 
jected, on  the  ground  that  Di.  Condit  had  not  been 
present  in  court  during  the  whole  of  Mrs.  Folger'3 
examination ;  the  court  sustained  the  objection,  and 
the  District  Attorney  then  announced  that  he  had 
no  fiirther  evidence  to  ofier. 

The  court  then  instructed  the  jury  that  there  was 
no  evidence  showing  that  the  death  of  Mr.  Pierson 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  267 

had  been  caused  by  poison,  and,  in  the  absence  of 
sufficient  evidence  to  prove  that  it  resulted  from  cul- 
pable neglect  or  ill-treatment,  they  would  advise  an 
acquittal ;  and  the  jury,  thereupon,  immediately  re- 
turned a  verdict  of  not  guilty. 

On  the  announcement  of  this  verdict,  the  prisoner 
was  evidently  elated  ;  but  his  countenance  fell  when 
he  found  that  he  was  to  be  tried  on  another  indict- 
ment for  assaulting  Isabella  Laisdell,  his  daughter,  ' 
with  a  whip.  The  indictment  also  contained  a 
count  against  the  prisoner  for  confining  the  said 
Isabella  Laisdell  against  her  will. 

When  the  indictment  was  read,  Matthews  said, 
"  This  is  another  branch  of  the  persecution  against 
me." 

Before  the  prisoner  pleaded  to  the  indictment, 
Mr.  Western  rose  and  read  from  a  paper,  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"  I  hereby  acknowledge  that  I  have  received  full 
and  ample  satisfaction  for  the  assault  and  battery  in 
this  case,  for  which  the  defendant  is  indicted,  and  I 
respectfully  pray  the  court  to  enter  a  nolle  prosequi 
therein,  accordingly. 

"Isabella  Laisdell. 

«  White  Plains,  April  IS//?,  1835." 

The  reading  of  this  document  seemed  t<:>  take  the 
District  Attorney  by  surprise,  and  he  requested  the 
court  to  order  Isabella  Laisdell  to  appear  personally 
in  court,  in  order  that  she  might  be  examined  on  the 
subject.     The  court  made  the  necessary  order,  and 


268  MATTHIAS    AND 

in  a  few  minutes  Isabella  Laisdell  came  into  court, 
and  acknov/ledged  that  she  had  signed  the  paper, 
and  forgave  her  father,  and  had  nothing  against  him. 

The  District  Attorney  urged  that  she  should  be 
examined  as  to  the  circumstances  of  the  reconcilia- 
tion or  compromise,  which,  after  some  discussion, 
the  court  assented  to,  and  Isabella  Laisdell  ajfirmed 
and  was  examined  on  the  subject. 

Charles  Laisdell,  her  husband,  was  then  examined, 
and  refused  to  concur  with  his  wife  in  compromising 
with  the  prisoner. 

The  court  then  ordered  the  trial  to  proceed. 

Mrs.  Laisdell  stated  that  she  was  eighteen  years 
old — was  the  daughter  of  the  prisoner — and  was 
married  to  Charles  Laisdell,  at  Albany,  in  the  month 
of  December,  1833.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage 
she  was  residing  with  her  mother,  her  father  having 
been  away  from  there  four  or  five  years.  She  went 
from  Albany  to  Singsing  with  her  two  brothers,  in 
the  care  of  Mr.  Folger,  on  the  15th  of  January. 
On  the  morning  of  her  arrival,  her  father  chastised 
her  in  his  room ;  it  was  on  account  of  her  saying 
that  she  would  not  stay  at  Singsing,  and  this  she 
had  said  because  he  told  her  that  her  marriage  was 
void — that  she  was  too  young  to  marry,  but  that  in 
proper  time  she  might  get  a  husband.  He  struck 
her  once  or  twice  across  the  shoulders  with  a  cow- 
hide ;  no  other  person  was  present.  The  next 
morning  Mrs.  Folger  came  into  her  room,  saying 
she  wanted  to  speak  to  her ;  she  answered  that  she 
was  not  very  well,  and  felt  fatigued.  Mrs.  Folger 
told  her  that  nobody  in  that  house  believed  in  sick- 


HIS  IMPOSTURES.  269 

ness  or  dying,  and  she  replied  that  she  would  die 
before  she  would  believe  any  such  doctrine.     This 
seemed  to  displease  Mrs.  Folger,  who  soon  left  the 
room.     A  little  after,  her  father  came  in,  and  asked 
what  she  had  been  saying  to  her  mother ;  she  an- 
swered that  her  mother  was  not  there,  and  he  said 
she  must  go  with  him  and  have  the  matter  righted. 
He  took  her  to  his  room,  where  she  found  Mrs. 
Folger  preparing  to  make  his  bed.      Mrs.  Folger 
told  him,  she   (Mrs.  Laisdell)  had  said  she  would 
die  rather  than  obey  him ;  and  her  father,  without 
allowing  her  time  to  correct  the  statement,  raised  a 
cowhide,  which  he  had  concealed  behind  his  back, 
and  struck  her  more  than  twenty  blows  across  her 
shoulders  ;  she  cried  out,  but  no  one  came  to  her 
relief.      The  blows  did  not  draw  any  blood.     Five 
or  six  weeks  afterward  there  was  a  scar  on  her  arm, 
where  one  of  the  blows  took  effect.     Two  weeks 
after,  her  father  took  her  in  his  carriage  to  New- 
York,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  to  the  house  in 
Third-street.      She  stayed  there  for  four  weeks,  and 
then  went  back  to  Singsing.      She  was  not  com- 
pelled to  stay  there,  but  had  no  money,  and  therefore 
could  not  go  away.      She  was  well  used  while  she 
remained  with  her  father,  except  in  the  affair  of  the 
whipping  ;  he  did  not  prohibit  her  returning  to  her 
husband.      He  sent  for  her  mother  to  come  to  Sing- 
sing,  but  she  would  not  come,  as  she  did  not  agree 
with  him  in  principles.     When  Mr.  Laisdell  came  to 
Singsing,  he  was  invited  to  the  house,  but  did  not 
come.     The  reason  why  her  father  disapproved  of 
her  marriage  was,  because  she  was  too  young,  and 
Z2 


270  MATTHIAS    AND 

because  he  held  that  marriages  were  unlawful,  ac- 
cording to  the  laws  of  God.  The  first  whipping 
was  given  her  because  she  was  impudent  to  her 
father ;  the  second  was  occasioned  by  misrepre- 
sentation of  her  words,  and  by  her  impertinence  in 
telling  him  that  she  was  married,  and  would  do  as 
she  pleased.  The  whipping  she  considered  as 
nothing  more  than  the  ordinary  chastisement  inflicted 
by  a  father  upon  his  child  for  misconduct,  and  after 
it,  he  was  as  kind  to  her  as  ever.  She  was  neither 
sick  nor  lame  after  either  of  the  whippings. 

Charles  Laisdell,  the  husband  of  the  last  witness, 
stated  that  after  she  had  been  gone  from  Albany 
about  three  weeks,  he  went  to  Singsing.  On  his 
arrival  he  mquired  for  Matthews,  and  was  told  that 
he  was  gone  to  New- York.  He  called  at  Mr.  Fol- 
ger's  house  there,  a  i'ew  times,  where  he  saw  Catha- 
rine, the  coloured  girl,  and  Mr.  Pierson's  children, 
who  ordered  him  away.  He  then  went  to  New- 
York,  to  the  house  in  Third-street,  where  he  en- 
quired for  Matthews.  Matthews  then  came  to  the 
door,  and  he  asked  to  see  his  wife;  Matthews  an- 
swered that  he  had  no  wife,  or  that  his  wife  was  not 
there,  and  then  went  in  and  shiit  the  door.  Mat- 
thews had  a  sword  by  his  side,  and  witness  was  a 
little  alarmed.  His  wife  was  in  the  house  at  the 
time,  but  he  was  not  allowed  to  enter.  The  next 
morning  he  went  again  with  an  oflicer,  but  found 
that  they  had  all  gone.  He  returned  to  Singsing, 
and  saw  Matthews,  who  told  him  his  wife  was  at 
New- York,  and  wanted  him  to  return  to  Albany ; 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  271 

Matthews  would  not  let  him  see  his  wife,  and  said 
he  had  been  married  by  a  devil,  and  that  henceforth 
none  would  be  married  but  by  him.  His  wife  was 
afterward  given  up  to  him  in  Court  by  an  officer, 
that  being  the  first  time  he  had  seen  her  since  she 
left  Albany.  She  had  then  a  sore  place  on  her  arm, 
from  the  whipping  she  had  received  six  weeks  be- 
fore, and  there  were  also  marks  on  her  back.  Rev. 
Nathaniel  S.  Prime  saw  Mrs.  Laisdell's  arm,  after 
she  had  been  removed  from  her  father's  custody ; 
the  mark  extended  about  a  third  of  the  way  round 
the  arm,  it  was  not  entirely  healed. 

The  case  was  here  closed,  no  other  testimony  be- 
ing offered  on  behalf  of  the  prisoner,  and  the  judge 
then  charged  the  jury,  who  retired  and  in  a  few 
minutes  returned  with  a  verdict  of  guilty.  The 
Court  then  intimated  to  the  prisoner  that  if  he  had 
any  thing  to  say,  he  would  now  be  heard,  provided 
he  behaved  properly.  He  was  already  sentenced  to 
thirty  days  imprisonment  for  his  contempt  of  Court 
on  a  former  occasion. 

Matthias  then  addressed  the  Court  in  a  firm 
but  seemingly  somewhat  subdued  tone.  The  fol- 
lowing are  his  words  verbatim.  "  I  have  been  con- 
fined near  seven  months,  and  nothing  has  been  made 
out  against  me,  until  this  last  case,  and  this  hag 
been  a  great  affliction  to  me,  though  I  have  been 
sustained  under  it,  knowing  that  I  was  innocent. 
The  things  which  are  apparent  are  so  because  they 
misrepresented  my  doctrines." 

Court — We  don't  want  to  hear  any  thing  about 
them. 


272  MATTHIAS    AND 

Matthias — You  don't — I  was  going  to  termi- 
nate by  saying,  that  feeling  I  was  innocent  I  think 
this  termination  altogether  extraordinary  and  unjust, 
and  if  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  Court  to  make  an 
offset  in  my  favour  in  the  latter  case,  I  hope  it  will. 

Judge  Ruggles — The  prisoner  was  not  confined 
on  account  of  the  present  offence,  but  the  Court 
have  taken  it  into  consideration  in  determining  on 
the  sentence.  He  stands  convicted  of  an  assault 
under  peculiar  circumstances  :  under  other  circum- 
stances, if  punished  at  all,  it  would  be  very  lightly. 
But  we  find  that  in  the  very  first  interview  with  his 
daughter,  he  told  her  that  marriages  were  void,  and 
endeavoured  to  inculcate  in  her  the  same  immorali- 
ties that  he  had  already  inculcated  upon  the  inmates 
of  the  house.  The  chastisement  was  also  inflicted 
without  her  deserving  it,  or  allowing  her  to  be  heard. 
The  Court  sentences  the  prisoner  to  be  confined 
three  months  in  the  county  jail,  from  the  termination 
of  his  first  sentence. 

To  Matthias. — We  now  tell  you  that  the  times 
for  practising  those  foolish  impositions  are  past.  The 
Court  is  satisfied  that  you  are  an  impostor,  and  that 
you  do  not  believe  in  your  own  doctrines.  We  ad- 
vise you  therefore,  when  you  come  out  of  jail  to 
shave  oflT  your  beard,  lay  aside  your  peculiar  dress, 
and  go  to  work  like  an  honest  man. 

Matthias — It  is  not  true. 

He  was  then  led  out  of  Court. 

Every  good  man  would  wish,  in  the  language  of 
the  presiding  judge,  that  "  the  times  for  practising 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  273 

such  foolish  impositions  were  past."  But  it  will  be 
seen  by  a  subsequent  page,  that  the  spirit  of  fanat- 
icism and  delusion  is  not  yet  extinct,  even  in  the 
city  of  New- York,  notwithstanding  the  shocking 
disclosures  that  have  been  made,  and  the  melancho- 
ly consequences. 


274  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  X. 

Traits  of  the  Impostor's  Character— A  Scene  in  Prison— Anec- 
dote— His  Contempt  of  Women — Shrewd  Comparison — 
Adroitness  in  evading  Questions— Casting  out  a  Devil — Con- 
versations on  his  miraculous  Gifts — Steamboat  Scenes  and 
Conversations — Interview  with  a  Gentleman  of  Distinction — 
Reflections — Readiness  at  Repartee — Parallels  between  Mat- 
thews and  other  Impostors— Simon  Magus— Montanus— John 
of  Levden — Cochrane — Mysterious  Influence — Summing  up 
of  the"  Impostor's  Character — A  Compound  of  Insanit}^  Kna- 
very, and  Self-deception. 

In  more  than  one  instance,  in  the  course  of  the 
present  work,  the  term  shrewdness  has  been  appHed 
to  the  conduct  of  Matthews  in  certain  emergencies. 
It  is  not  to  be  understood,  however,  that  the  writer 
awards  to  him  the  possession  of  any  extraordinary 
gifts  of  cunning  or  of  wit.  There  are  those,  we  are 
aware,  who  allow  him  credit  for  no  one  moral  or 
intellectual  quality — who  consider  him  a  perfect  and 
unimprovable  specimen  of  ignorance  and  stupidity ; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  persons  are  not  wanting 
who  look  upon  him  as  a  man  by  no  means  devoid 
of  sense,  and  withal  very  adroit.  The  truth,  proba- 
bly, as  in  most  cases  of  conflicting  opinions,  lies 
between  the  extremes.  The  writer  does  not  be- 
lieve him  to  be  altogether  the  blockhead  which 
some  suppose,  but  is,  on  the  contrary,  inclined  to 
award  him  some  degree  of  shrev/dness,  with  more 


HIS   IMPOSTURES.  275 

of  native  intellect  than  he  has  received  credit  for. 
But  in  order  to  the  better  illustration  of  his  character, 
a  few  personal  anecdotes  have  been  collected  from 
authentic  sources,  which  will  be  submitted  in  the 
present  chapter,  together  with  t\\  o  or  three  reports 
of  interviews  with  him,  which  have  been  politely  fur- 
nished the  writer  by  literary  gentlemen  of  character. 

While  confined  in  the  Bellevue  prison  in  October 
last,  awaiting  his  examination,  prior  to  his  full  com- 
mitment for  trial,  the  inmates  of  the  prison,  suspect- 
ing that  he  had  money  in  his  possession,  made  an 
attempt  to  inflict  the  discipline  of  blanketing  him. 
The  prophet  threatened  them  with  eternal  torment 
if  they  proceeded.  They  assured  him  he  must  sub- 
mit, as  it  was  an  ordeal  through  which  all  of  them 
had  to  pass,  and  he  was  no  better  than  the  rest  of 
them.  They  then  put  him  into  a  blanket,  several 
of  them  holding  the  corners  of  it,  and  gave  him  two 
or  three  tosses.  The  poor  prophet,  finding  that 
they  were  determined  to  carry  their  threat  into  fur- 
ther operation,  agreed  to  pay  them  twenty-five  cents 
a-piece  to  let  him  off.  After  they  had  liberated 
him,  he  declared,  most  truly,  beyond  a  doubt,  that 
he  had  been  thrown  into  a  "  den  of  thieves."  The 
allusion  was  more  to  the  point  than  was  always  the 
case  in  his  references  to  sacred  writ. 

While  Matthews  was  residing  at  the  hotel  near 
the  Battery  as  heretofore  mentioned,  a  gentleman  by 

the   name  of  F had   also  his  quarters  at   the 

same  place.  Not  many  days  after  he  had  com- 
menced boarding  there,  he  was  one  morning  very 
familiarly  and  abruptly  accosted  by  Matthews,  with 


276  MATTHIAS    AND 

whom  he  had   not  previously  exchanged  a  syllable. 

"  Mr.  F ,"  said  he,  "  how  long  do  you  think  1 

have  been  upon  this  earth?"  "  Indeed,  I  have  no 
idea,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  Well,  I  will  tell  you," 
rejoined  the  prophet ;  "  more  than  eighteen  hundred 

years !"      Mr.  F ,  knowing   nothing  as   to   the 

peculiarity  of  his  character  at  the  time,  it  may  be 
imagined,  was  somewhat  surprised  at  so  extraordinary 
an  annunciation,  and  scanning  him  from  top  to  toe, 
involuntarily  exclaimed,  "  The  d — 1  you  have  ;  do 
you  tell  me  so !"  "  I  do,"  observed  the  other. 
"  Then  all  I  have  to  say  is,  that  you  are  a  remarka- 
bly good-looking  fellow  for  one  of  your  age  !" 
Matthews  put  on  one  of  his  sardonic  grins,  and  with 
an  indignant  scowl,  replied,  "  You  are  a  devil,  sir," 
and  walked  immediately  away. 

It  will  have  been  seen,  as  well  from  the  narra- 
tive of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger,  as  from  other  circum- 
stances which  have  been  noted,  that  Matthews  did 
not  pay  that  respectful  deference  to  the  female  char- 
acter which  is  exacted  in  all  respectable  society,  and 
cheerfully  awarded  in  all  Christian  countries.  He 
seemed  to  look  upon  the  sex  as  an  inferior  order  of 
beings,  like  the  Mohammedans,  and  spoke  of  them 
with  sneers  and  contempt,  like  the  Indians.  A 
learned  and  accomplished  theologian  of  New- York 
has  furnished  the  following  incident,  which  affords 
a  pointed  and  appropriate  illustration  of  this  feature 
of  his  character,  and  is  withal  rather  amusing.  It 
occurred  in  the  bookstore  of  Mr.  F ,  in  Broad- 
way, a  few  months  before  the  prophet  left  the  city. 

"  He  entered  the  store,  and  abruptly  launched  out 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  277 

into  a  kind  of  soliloquizing  rhapsody  on  the  present 
state  of  religion  and  the  prospects  of  the  church. 
Without  appearing  to  notice  him,  I  indulged  my  cu- 
riosity a  few  moments  in  listening  to  his  wild  and 
outre  tirade  against  the  whole  existing  order  of  things 
religious.  Though  in  the  main  a  medley  of  '  bald 
disjointed  chat,'  yet  I  was  certainly  somewhat  struck 
with  a  kind  of  shrewd  piquancy  in  his  remarks,  and 
a  vein  occasionally  approaching  to  a  rude  eloquence, 
which  I  can  conceive  might  have  no  inconsiderable 
effect  upon  an  audience  of  no  more  cultivation  or 
refinement  than  himself.  I  retain  nothing  of  his 
rhodomontade  but  the  amusing  simile  he  employed 
in  speaking  of  the  agency  of  women  in  sustaining 
the  benevolent  operations  of  the  present  day.  This, 
he  said,  was  but  acting  over  the  part  of  the  Philis- 
tines in  sending  back  the  ark  of  the  covenant  to  the 
land  of  Israel  in  a  cart  drawn  by  cows  instead  of 
oxen.  '  So  it  is  now,'  said  he  ;  '  the  ark  of  the 
Lord  is  held  up  and  carried  by  nothing  but  cou'S.^  " 
When  likely  to  be  pressed  into  a  corner,  Matthews 
was  frequently  dexterous  in  escaping  by  evasion, 
as  in  the  following  instance,  which  has  been  related 
to  the  writer  by  a  gentleman  who  dined  with  the 
prophet  several  times,  at  the  house  of  one  of  his 
disciples.  The  gentleman  at  the  first  interview, 
having  no  previous  knowledge  of  him,  supposed 
him,  from  his  costume  and  appearanco,  to  be  a  Jew- 
ish Rabbi,  and,  of  course,  well  acquainted  with  the 
Hebrew  Scriptures  ;  he  took  the  liberty  respectfully 
to  ask  him  the  literal  signification  of  a  certain  He- 
brew expression.  Upon  this,  IMatihias  hesitated  a 
Aa 


278  MATTHIAS    AND 

short  time,  and  then  very  shrewdly  replied,  "  that  he 
was  asked  so  many  questions,  and  they  took  up 
so  much  of  his  time  to  satisfy,  that  he  had  come  to 
the  resolution  to  give  no  answers  to  any  of  them.'* 
His  proselyte,  who  was  present,  appeared  to  be  well 
satisfied  with  this  reply,  presuming,  no  doubt,  that 
the  prophet  knew  all  things,  and  could,  if  he  chose, 
give  the  true  explanation  required. 

In  proof  of  the  gift,  or  power  which  he  asserted, 
of  working  miracles,  Matthews  related  the  following 
incident  to  the  same  gentleman  while  at  table. 
Whether  the  prophet  himself  did  not  intend  the 
anecdote  to  be  rather  a  specimen  of  pleasantry,  it  is 
difficult  to  say.  He  stated,  that  while  imprisoned, 
in  the  early  part  of  his  career,  at  Albany,  there  was 
also  in  confinement  a  crazy  woman,  who  gave  great 
annoyance  to  the  inmates,  not  unfrequently  com- 
mitting assaults  upon  them.  He  met  her  one  day 
as  he  was  descending  the  stairs  of  the  upper  apart- 
ments, apparently  in  a  furious  rage  ;  and  having  the 
Bible  in  his  hand,  he  brought  it  in  contact  with  her 
face  with  considerable  force,  exclaiming,  at  the  same 
time,  in  a  high  tone  of  voice.  In  the  name  of  God 
depart  from  her!  which  had  the  desired  effect. 
She  immediately  became  calm,  and  in  a  short  time 
was  dismissed  from  the  prison  as  cured.  He 
soon  afterward  met  her  in  the  street,  apparently 
well. 

The  subjoined  account  of  an  interview  with  the 
impostor,  and  his  assumption  of  miraculous  gifts, 
has  been  furnished  by  a  literary  friend.     It  also 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  279 

illustrates  the  facility,  already  referred  to,  with  which 
he  was  wont  to  escape  an  approaching  dilemma : — 

"  I  met  Matthews  accidentally,  one  afternoon,  at 

the  warehouse  of  the  Messrs.  ,  which  he  had 

lately  taken  it  into  his  head  to  visit  several  times. 
On  my  entrance  he  was  sitting  upon  a  box,  arrayed 
in  his  green  frock-coat  and  red  sash,  holding  forth 
to  one  of  the  partners  and  two  or  three  other  gentle- 
men standing  around  him,  on  the  subject  of  his 
pretended  divinity.  The  immediate  topic  was  his 
alleged  power  of  working  miracles,  which  he  was 
maintaining  against  the  skeptical  remarks  and  queries 
of  his  auditory,  who  were  evidently  amusing  them- 
selves with  his  absurdities.  He  was  ready  in  an- 
swering, and  displayed  considerable  shrewdness  in 
meeting  the  difficulties  presented  to  him — which, 
however,  were  not  of  a  very  startling  character,  as 
the  comments  of  the  gentlemen  were  rather  of  an 
ironical  turn,  than  involving  any  thing  like  serious 
disputation.  Matthews  himself  was  a  very  pattern 
of  gravity — courteous,  but  never  relaxing  into  a 
smile,  and  continually  smoothing  down  his  luxuriant 
beard  and  moustaches,  an  exercise  in  which  he 
seemed  to  take  great  delight. 

"  I  listened  for  a  time  without  joining  in  the  con- 
versation, but  finally  made  a  remark  which  Mat- 
thews answered  very  readily,  and  for  some  minutes 
the  discourse  was  kept  up  exclusively  between  him 
and  myself.  The  subject  was  still  his  alleged 
miraculous  power.  I  urged  him  to  afford  us  a 
proof  of  it  by  working  some  miracle  on  the  spot ; 
but  he,  of  course,  evaded  the  demand,  very  much  in 


280  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  usual  style  of  impostors,  sometimes  by  declaring 
that  it  would  be  an  indignity  to  exert  a  supernatural 
and  heavenly  power  for  the  mere  indulgence  of  an 
idle  curiosity,  and  then  again  insisting  upon  the  ne- 
cessity of  our  having  faith  in  him,  before  a  miracle 
could  be  made  perceptible  to  our  senses.  After 
some  discourse  of  this  kind,  I  grew  tired  of  his  non- 
sense, and  went  away  to  another  part  of  the  ware- 
room,  where  I  entered  into  conversation  with  some 
other  gentlemen. 

"  In  the  course  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  I  re- 
turned to  where  Matthews  was  yet  sitting,  and  found 
him  still  '  harping  on  my  daughter,'  that  is  to  say, 
the  miracles.  Mr.  ,  one  of  the  firm,  was  tell- 
ing him,  when  I  came  up,  that  he  was  suffering  much 
from  the  aching  of  a  decayed  tooth,  and  urging  him, 
with  mock  gravity,  to  make  that  tooth  instantly 
sound  by  his  divine  power ;  Matthews  somewhat 
testily  replied  that  he  could   not  work  this  miracle 

unless  Mr.  had  faith  that  he  could  do  so,  and 

seemed  rather  anxious  to  change  the  subject.  To 
effect  this,  as  I  supposed,  he  began  to  tell  a  long 
story  about  the  child  of  Mr.  Folger,  which  had  been 
taken  very  dangerously  ill :  that  a  physician  was 
called  in  by  the  parents  :  that  he  (M.)  came  to  the 
house  and  found  the  physician  there  :  that  he  re- 
buked Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folger  for  seeking  human  aid, 
and  required  them  to  dismiss  the  doctor :  that  they 
refused  and  he  insisted  :  that  he  told  them  unless 
thoy  did  the  child  would  die  :  that  they  yielded  at 
last,  sent  the  doctor  away,  and  he  commanded  the 
child  to  arise  and  be  well,  which  was  instantly  done. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  ^81 

The  child  got  up  from  the  bed  in  perfect  heahh,  and 
had  so  continued  ever  since. 

"  We,  of  course,  all  expressed  the  requisite 
amount  of  astonishment  at  this  history ;  and,  at  the 
first  pause  in  the  conversation,  I  asked,  '  How  old 
was  the  child  V  '  Quite  an  infant,'  he  answered — 
» about  a  year  old.'  '  Old  enough  to  talk,  or  to  un- 
derstand what  was  said  to  it  V  '  No  !'  '  You  stated 
a  little  while  ago,  I  think,  that  you  could  not  work 

a  miracle  in  behalf  of  Mr.  ,  unless  he  had  faith 

in  you — did  you  not  V  Matthews  looked  hard  at 
me  for  a  few  moments,  with  a  cool  wary  glance, 
apparently  revolving  in  his  mind  the  purport  of  my 
query,  and  then  turning  suddenly  away,  answered, 
'  I  was  not  talking  with  you — you  are  an  interloper 
— you  interrupt  my  conversation  with  this  gentle- 
man ;'  and  further  speech  he  vouchsafed  me  not. 
I  presume  he  had  discovered  the  dilemma  into 
which  I  was  leading  him,  between  his  avowed  ne- 
cessity of  faith  existing  in  the  party  on  whom  a 
miracle  was  to  be  wrought,  and  the  impossibility 
that  such  faith  could  exist  in  the  infant." 

The  extraordinary  community  at  Mount  Zipn 
were  frequent  travellers  to  and  from  New-York,  both 
by  land  and  water.  When  on  board  of  a  steam- 
boat, in  which  he  was  often  a  passenger,  he  was  al- 
ways liable,  from  the  strangeness  of  his  costume 
and  conduct,  and  from  his  ridiculous  pretensions,  to 
the  jeers  and  reproaches,  and  sometimes  to  the  har- 
assing treatment  of  his  fellow  passengers.  He  had 
no  discretion  ;  and  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  arouse 
his  passions  to  the  highest  degree  of  exasperation — 
Aa2 


282  MATTHIAS    AND 

at  which  times  his  miraculous  and  divine  powers 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  amusement  of  the  by- 
standers. On  one  of  these  occasions,  Matthews 
having  boasted  of  these  exalted  attainments,  an  ath- 
letic farmer  proposed  to  test  the  extent  of  his  powers 
by  casting  him  overboard,  that  he  might  remove  the 
skepticism  of  the  incredulous  multitude  by  walking  on 
the  water.  The  prophet  did  not  relish  the  proposi- 
tion, which  was  prevented  by  the  interference  of  the 
captain.  At  another  time,  the  same  hardy  yeoman 
attempted  to  shave  off  his  beard  while  on  board  of 
the  boat,  and  was  only  induced  to  desist  by  the  sup- 
plications of  one  of  his  female  followers,  and  the 
renewed  interposition  of  the  captain.  This  dispo- 
sition to  annoy  him  occasions  no  surprise,  when  the 
reports  in  circulation  as  to  his  cofiduct  at  Mount 
Zion  and  elsewhere  are  considered,  and  when  the 
repulsive  and  insulting  language  in  which  he  was  in 
the  habit  of  indulging  towards  all  who  questioned  or 
denied  his  impious  pretensions  is  also  taken  into  the 
account.  "  Liars,"  «  Devils,"  "  Gentiles,"  "  Children 
of  the  Gentiles,"  &c.,  with  other  epithets  equally  mild 
and  conciliatory,  were  as  household  words  with  him 
on  such  occasions. 

A  distinguished  literary  gentleman  has  furnished 
the  writer  with  the  following  detailed  account  of  an 
interview  with  Matthews,  during  one  of  these  steam- 
boat excursions  of  which  we  have  just  been  speak- 
ing. It  forms  an  interesting  little  narrative  of  itself; 
and  the  reflections  subjoined  by  the  writer  are  enti- 
tled to  grave  consideration, — although  the  author  is 
constrained  to  withhold  his  assent  from  the  conclu- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  283 

sion  to  which  his  friend  has  arrived,  in  its  full  extent. 
The  author  fully  believes  there  is  such  a  thing  as 
fanaticism  which  is  stone-blind,  and  of  deep  and 
lamentable  delusion,  in  which  there  is  great  sincerity, 
without  impiety. 

"  Some  time  in  the  course  of  the  last  summer, 
passing  up  the  Hudson  in  one  of  the  steamboats,  I 
happened  to  be  sitting  at  one  end  of  a  sofa,  on  the 
upper  deck,  at  the  other  end  of  which  sat  a  person  who 
excited  no  attention  at  the  moment.  On  pulUng 
out  my  watch,  however,  he  inquired  of  me  the  hour, 
and  this  naturally  drawing  my  notice,  I  remarked 
something  rather  particular  in  his  dress  and  appear- 
ance. The  former  consisted  of  a  green  frock-coat 
lined  with  plaid  silk,  pantaloons  of  the  same  cloth  and 
colour,  a  white  vest,  all  quite  new  and  remarkably 
clean  and  neat.  He  wore  a  long  beard  almost 
white ;  his  face  was  pale  and  rather  haggard,  and 
his  eye  of  a  dull  gray.  His  countenance  was  alto- 
gether somewhat  remarkable,  but  its  expression 
neither  agreeable  nor  intelligent. 

"  On  telling  him  the  hour,  he  pulled  out  a  splendid 
gold  watch  and  appendages,  and  observed  that  our 
watches  differed  as  to  time.  This  led  to  further 
conversation,  which  I  was  willing  to  encourage,  from 
some  little  curiosity  occasioned  by  his  dress,  his  long 
beard,  and  his  singular  manner.  He  soon  gave  me 
to  understand  that  he  was  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  which, 
it  seems,  has  either  disappeared,  or  lain  dormant  in 
the  world,  since  the  first  ages  of  Christianity.  The 
time  for  reviving  it  had  now  come,  and  in  him  I  be- 
held its  visible  representative.     I  questioned  Ihia 


284  MATTHIAS    AND 

important  personage  concerning  the  details  of  his 
system,  but  found  him  utterly  incapable  of  explain- 
ing it  consistently,  rationally,  or  in  a  manner  at  all 
within  my  comprehension.  I  occasionally  assisted 
him  out  of  some  of  his  difficulties,  by  explaining 
his  own  meaning ;  and  though  the  explanations  were 
designedly  inconsistent  and  contradictory,  he  always 
assented  to  them  eagerly,  as  if  glad  to  be  relieved 
from  his  labyrinth  of  obscurity  and  darkness.  It  is 
impossible  for  me  to  give  any  intelligible  analysis  of 
what  was  in  itself  unintelligible,  and  therefore  I  shall 
decline  the  attempt. 

"  His  style  of  conversation  was  that  of  a  very 
ignorant  and  very  dull  man ;  his  voice  was  dry, 
sharp,  and  disagreeable,  and  there  was  so  little  of 
that  enthusiasm  which  is  the  parent  of  genuine  fa- 
naticism, and  the  secret  of  its  catching  influence,  in 
his  language  and  manner,  that  I  set  him  down  in 
my  own  mind  as  a  rank  and  wilful  hypocrite  and  de- 
ceiver. Yet  how  it  was  possible  such  an  ignorant, 
stupid  being  could  deceive  any  rational  person  into 
the  monstrous  absurdity  of  believing  that  the  Spirit 
of  Truth,  spoke  in  language  not  to  be  understood,  I 
could  not  have  conceived,  had  there  not  been  so 
many  examples  of  that  wilful  willingness  with  which 
mankind  in  every  age  have  submitted  to  become  the 
dupes  and  instruments  of  blundering  imposture. 

"  AVhile  under  pretence  of  explaining  his  system 
of  faith  he  was  gradually  involving  himself  in  new 
absurdities,  and  inconsistencies,  we  were  rather 
rudely,  as  I  then  thought,  broken  in  upon  by  a  little 
sanguine  looking  man,  with  an  ardent  complexion,  and 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  285 

sturdy  form,  who  attacked  the  Spirit  of  Truth  with 
great  vehemence  and  very  Uttle  ceremony.  I  was 
somewhat  nettled  at  this  intrusion,  and  abuse  of  my 
companion,  whom  I  desired  to  give  me  a  specimen 
of  his  miraculous  powers  by  taking  away  the  speech 
of  this  irreverent  intruder,  and  thus  establishing  the 
truth  of  his  mission.  He  did  not  seem  to  relish  this 
test  of  his  divinity,  and  in  the  mean  time  the  little 
man  continued  to  rail  at  him  with  astonishing  volu- 
bility. In  the  course  of  his  argument  he  charged 
the  prophet  with  a  tissue  of  deceptions  and  crimes, 
that  alarmed  me  at  the  company  I  had  thus  acci- 
dentally got  into,  and  when,  at  length,  I  heard  the 
name  of  Matthias,  as  that  of  my  worshipful  com- 
panion, I  gave  up  his  defence,  and  left  him  to  the 
judgment  of  the  crowd  that  had  now  gathered  to- 
gether. 

"  A  sort  of  popular  tribunal  was  formed  around 
Matthias,  and  his  accuser  proceeded  to  a  detail  of 
crimes  and  deceptions  of  the  most  revolting  char- 
acter, such  as  have  since  been  established  against 
him  in  a  court  of  justice.  No  violence  was  offered 
or  threatened  by  the  surrounding  audience,  yet 
did  this  wretched  and  guilty  impostor,  who  affects 
to  be  no  less  than  the  maker  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  all  the  creatures  which  inhabit  the  universe, 
stand  silent,  and  trembling  under  the  consciousness 
of  his  crimes,  in  the  presence  of  the  very  beings  he 
pretended  to  have  created.  I  never  saw  in  the 
countenance  and  manner  of  any  criminal  more  clear 
unerring  marks  of  conscious  guilt  than  this  man 
exhibited  on  this  occasion.     I  could  not  help  ming- 


286  MATTHIAS    AND 

ling  pity  for  his  present  situation  with  abhorrence  of 
his  past  enormities.  He  was  now  at  the  close  of 
his  career,  on  his  way  to  Albany,  where  he  was 
arrested  on  a  charge  of  murder,  and  brought  down 
to  Westchester  for  trial. 

"The  extraordinary  impositions,  connected  with 
the  deplorable  ignorance  of  Matthias,  and  the  total 
absence  of  every  qualification  of  person,  manner, 
speech,  and  reasoning,  which  I  had  always  believed 
necessary  to  constitute  a  successful  impostor,  cre- 
ated in  my  mind  various  reflections  on  the  nature  of 
what  is  denominated  fanaticism,  but  which  I  believe 
is  quite  as  often,  if  not  oftener,  sheer  downright  hy- 
pocrisy, both  in  the  deceiver  and  in  those  who  pre- 
tend to  be  deluded.  It  appeared  to  me  utterly  im- 
possible that  any  rational  beings,  however  ignorant 
or  inexperienced,  could,  in  an  age  of  Christianity,  be 
persuaded  into  the  self-evident  impossibility  of  a 
man,  like  themselves  in  every  moral  and  physical  at- 
tribute, being  the  Divinity  itself,  without  the  inter- 
vention of  palpable,  incontestable  miracles  performed 
by  that  person  in  open  day,  and  in  the  presence  of 
hving  witnesses. 

"  I  could  not  therefore  avoid  the  conclusion,  that 
by  far  the  greater  portion  of  those  who  profess  to 
be  deluded,  only  assume  the  character  of  believers 
in  these  impostures,  for  the  purpose  of  thus  freeing 
themselves  from  the  restraint  of  those  rules  and  de- 
corums and  obligations  of  society,  which  they  can- 
not otherwise  contravene  without  calling  down  on 
their  own  heads  disgrace  and  punishment.  It  will, 
in  almost  every  case  of  these  fanatical  eruptions,  bo 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  287 

seen  that  the  imposture  begins  by  railing  against  all 
the  domestic  duties  and  relations  of  the  social  state  : 
filial  and  parental  ties,  the  marriage  vow,  the  sane- 
tity  of  chastity,  most  especially,  form  the  subjects  of 
their  attacks,  and  the  basis  of  every  false  religion  is 
almost  uniformly  laid  in  the  ruins  of  feminine  purity, 
matrimonial  faith,  and  domestic  obligations. 

''  That  those  who  have  become  impatient  of  these 
ties  and  duties,  or  who  wish  to  free  themselves  from 
the  necessity  of  conforming  to  the  restraints  of  the 
social  state,  and  travel  out  into  the  boundless  ocean 
of  licentious  indulgence,  should  shelter  themselves 
under  the  convenient  mask  of  fanaticism,  from  the 
imputation  of  criminal  excesses,  and  affect  to  be- 
come conscientiously  lewd,  or  wicked  from  principle, 
is  surely  not  a  subject  of  wonder,  however  it  may  be 
of  regret.  Hence  we  almost  always  see  the  devel- 
opment and  exposure  of  these  impostures  exhibit- 
ing to  the  eyes  of  the  world  a  scene  of  lewdness 
and  licentious  intercourse  equally  degrading  to  the 
character  of  that  sex,  among  whom  we  almost  al- 
ways find  the  first  disciples  of  every  new-fangled 
religious  imposition,  and  to  the  character  of  rational 
and  moral  beings.  From  all  I  have  seen  and  read 
of  these  victims,  or  accomplices  of  successful  im- 
posture, I  am  unalterably  convinced,  that  what  is 
called  fanaticism,  is  oftener  the  cool  calculating  off- 
spring of  a  corrupt  and  sensual  heart,  than  of  a  de- 
luded overheated  brain.  Nine  times  in  ten,  I  believe 
it  is  only  the  veil  behind  which  corrupt  men  and 
women  seek  a  shelter  from  the  ignominy  of  a  licen- 


288  MATTHIAS    AND 

tious  life,  and  cloak  the  indulgence  of  indiscriminate 
lewdness." 

In  the  introduction  to  this  interesting  communica- 
tion, the  author  dissented  in  part  from  the  theory  of 
the  writer  as  to  the  extent  to  which  he  would  carry 
it.     But  that  his  conclusions  are  just  to  a  very  con- 
siderable extent,  cannot  be  denied.      Indeed,  an  ex- 
amination of  the  history  of  heresies  and  impostures, 
in  all  ages,  will  disclose  the  painful  fact,  that  whethei 
arising  from  enthusiasm,  or  phrensy,  or  from  delib 
erate  imposture,  a  common  character  seems  to  havfe 
run  through  and  pervaded   nearly  all, — and  the  ten- 
dency has,  beyond  doubt,  most  usually  been  to  licen- 
tiousness and  criminal  intercourse  between  the  sexes. 
This  fact  has  not  escaped  the  enemies  of  Christi- 
anity, who  have  availed  themselves  of  it  in  their  at- 
tacks, for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  weight  of 
odium  with  which  they  would  cover  it.      Mr.  Hume, 
however,  has  the  candour  to  assign  the  true  cause 
for  the  effect,  viz.  the  strength  of  human  passions, 
and  the  facilities  of  criminal  indulgence,  afforded  by 
the  frequent  and  intimate  associations  produced  by 
congenial  fanaticism,  between  the  sexes.      The  de- 
lusion of  the  followers  of  Ann  Lee,  however,  com- 
monly known  as  the  Shakers,  has  differently  affected 
their  moral   practice,  since  their  creed  requires  a 
mortification  of  the  sensual  portion  of  our  nature, 
for  the  greater  perfection  of  the  soul.      Still,  in  most 
cases,    from   the   primitive   heresy   of  Gnosticism, 
down  to  the  fifth    monarchy   sect  of   the   puritan 
age,  and  even  to  the  days  of  Joanna  Southcote  in 
England,  and  the  Cochranites,  the  lascivious  Mor- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  289 

mons,  and  the  sensual  Perfectionists  of  the  pres- 
ent day  in  the  United  States,  the  tendency,  it  can- 
not be  denied,  has  been  to  permit  almost  every 
licence  of  impurity. 

To   resume,  however,  the   illustrations  we   had 
proposed  of  the  intellectual  character  of  Matthews. 
Notwithstanding  his  occasional  appearance  of  sto- 
hdity,  there  is  often  about  him  a  smartness  of  re- 
partee, and  a  readiness  and  adroitness  in  converting 
casual  incidents  to  his  own  advantage,  which  gives 
him  an  undue  consequence  with  the  unthinking  mul- 
titude, who  look  upon  him  rather  as  a  rare  monster 
than  a  fool.     Mr.  Folger  has  said,  in  his  narrative, 
that  he  is  an  arrant  coward  ;  in  support  of  which  opi- 
nion, it  may  be  observed,  that  in  the  whole  course 
of  his  career,  whenever  he  had  reason  to  apprehend 
that  his  insolence  would  be  visited  with  punishment, 
he  was  very  cautious   to  withhold   it — though  ex- 
ceedingly lavish  of  abuse  at  other  times.     Being 
told  by  one  who  would  not  brook  his  arrogance,  that 
if  he  spoke   to  him  as  he  had  done  to  others,  he 
would  knock  him  down-^-"  I  will  have  nothing  to 
say  to  you,"  was  his  ready  and  prudent  reply.      His 
shrewdness  has  been  frequently  manifested  in  his 
retorts  upon  those  who  have  questioned  him  in  re- 
gard to  his  manner  of  life,  &c.     "I  once  heard 
him,"  says  a  friend,  addressing  the  writer,  "  a  few 
moments  on  board  of  a  steamboat  in  conversation 
assert,  that  '  He  kejjt  a  long  fast  when  he  first  began 
to  preach  the  truth  in  Albany ;'  and  when  asked 
why  he  did  not  live  with  and  provide  for  his  children 
as  honest  men  did,  he  instantly  answered  the  in* 
Bb 


290  MATTHIAS    AND 

quirer,  whom  he  had  constantly  been  calling  a  devil, 
'  J\Iij  children  obey  my  voice,  and  follow  me.' 
The  inquirer  replied,  '  I  endeavour  to  control  my 
children  the  best  way  I  can,  and  yet  they  do  not 
always  obey  me.'  Matthews  instantly  retorted, 
'  The  disobedient  are  the  children  of  the  devil, ^  and 
then  laughed  with  real  glee  at  the  point  of  his  own 
repartee.  After  enjoying  his  witticism  to  the  full, 
he  said,  in  extenuation  of  his  risibility,  that  '  Elijah 
was  a  jovial  old  soul !'  " 

Again,  after  his  arrest,  on  his  way  to  Bedford 
Court,  he,  with  other  passengers,  walked  up  some 
of  the  hills,  and,  in  so  doing,  the  prophet  rather  en- 
croached upon  and  crowded  one  of  them  into  the 
gutter  ;  and  when  the  latter  remonstrated,  the  former 
replied,  "  I  always  incline  to  the  rights 

After  arriving  at  the  village,  and  while  proceeding 
from  the  tavern  to  the  Court-house,  followed  of  course 
by  a  cavalcade  of  boys  and  idlers,  he  gravely  turned 
about  and  exclaimed,  "Why,  I  have  ^  few  followers 
yet  /" 

As  to  the  extent  of  the  reading  of  Matthews,  inde- 
pendently of  the  Bible,  with  which  he  is  greatly  con- 
versant, the  writer  has  no  means  of  judging.  From 
his  general  manifestations  of  ignorance,  however,  it 
is  most  probably  very  limited.  He  may  have 
read  the  lives  and  exploits  of  former  heresiarchs  and 
impostors,  and  attempted  to  copy  their  unblessed 
and  inglorious  example,  in  respect  both  to  conduct 
and  doctrine.  But  such  is  probably  not  the  fact, 
although  striking  parallels  might  very  easily  be  traced 
between  his  character  and  pretensions  and  those  of 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  291' 

Other  deceivers  in  almost  every  prominent  instance 
of  fanaticism  and  delusion.  Even  in  Simon  Magus, 
conspicuous  among  the  first  corrupters  of  Chris- 
tianity, the  same  leading  characteristics,  in  princi- 
ples, pretensions,  and  practice,  were  displayed  as  in 
Robert  Matthews.  After  the  rejection  of  the  sor- 
cerer by  the  Apostle  Peter,  for  his  impious  offer  of 
money  in  purchase  of  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he 
fell  into  greater  errors  and  abominations  than  be- 
fore. Travelling  to  Rome,  and  exciting  the  admi- 
ration of  many  by  his  false  miracles  and  impostures, 
he  was  honoured  as  a  deity  by  Claudius,  who  is 
said  by  some  to  have  decreed  a  statue  to  him  with 
the  inscription  "  Simoni  Deo  sancto^^ — although  the 
fact  has  been  disputed  by  able  critics.  He  was 
called  by  his  followers,  "  The  Great  Power  of  God  ;" 
and  these  blasphemous  expressions  have  been 
quoted  from  one  of  his  books  by  Jerome  : — "  I  am 
the  word  of  God — I  am  the  beauty  of  God — I  am 
the  Comforter — I  am  the  Almighty — I  am  the  whole 
essence  of  God."  His  mistress,  Helen,  with  whom 
he  was  guilty  of  all  impiety,  he  called — "  The  first 
intelligence,  the  mother  of  all  things,  and  some- 
times the  Holy  Ghost.  He  said  that  by  this  first 
intelligence  he  had  originally  a  design  of  creating 
the  angels ;  but  that  she,  knowing  this  will  of  her 
father,  had  descended  lower,  and  had  produced  the 
angels  and  the  other  spiritual  powers,  to  whom  she 
had  given  no  knowledge  of  her  father ;  that  these 
angels  and  powers  had  afterward  made  angels  and 
men ;  that  Helen  had  passed  successively  into  the 
bodies  of  various  women,  among  others,  into  that 


292  MATTHIAS    AND 

of  Helen,  wife  of  Menelaus,  who  occasioned  the 
war  of  Troy ;  and  at  last  into  the  body  of  this 
Helen,"  a  prostitute  whom  he  had  purchased  at 
Tyre.  He  did  not  acknowledge  Jesus  Christ,  but 
pretended  to  consider  him  his  rival,  asserting  that 
he  was  himself  the  Christ.  He  taught  a  disbelief  in 
the  resurrection  of  the  body,  but  only  of  the  soul — 
the  body  being  a  substance  too  gross  for  an  eternal 
destiny.  He  maintained  that  men  need  not  trouble 
themselves  about  good  works,  and  that  the  distinction 
of  actions  into  good  and  evil  was  only  introduced 
by  angels  to  render  men  subject  to  them.  He 
ascribed  to  them  the  Old  Testament,  which  he  re- 
jected;  and  yet  offered  idolatrous  worship  to  the 
angels,  whom  he  considered  spirits  of  evil,  to  pro- 
pitiate them.*  On  the  whole,  the  blasphemous  pre- 
tensions and  absurdities  of  Simon  correspond  re» 
markably  with  the  ravings  of  Matthews. 

.  Very  similar  to  his  conduct  and  pretensions,  also, 
was  the  character  of  Montanus,  the  vain  and  super- 
stitious enthusiast  who  founded  the  sect  of  the 
Montanists,  in  the  second  century  of  the  Christian 
era.  He  commenced  his  career  in  Asia  Minor, 
professing  to  be  the  Paraclete,  or  Comforter,  the 
same  who  had  descended  upon  the  apostles,  and 
whose  return  on  earth  before  the  second  coming  of 
Christ,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  Divine 
Revelation,  was  expected  by  many  of  the  faithful ; 
and  his  trances,  and  ecstatic  raptures,  and  frantic 
ravings,  were  probably  regarded  by  the  credulous 

*  Calmet,  Robinson,  Waddington. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  293 

and  wondering  multitude  as  the  surest  signs  of  Divine 
Revelation.  He  had  many  followers  for  a  time, 
and  his  success  was  promoted  by  two  prophetesses, 
who  confirmed  his  mission  and  shared  his  spirit. 
They  inculcated  a  severe  morality,  however,  enjoin- 
ing rigid  fastings  and  celibacy.* 

But  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these  parallels 
to  the  case  of  Matthews,  for  the  closeness  of  resem- 
blance in  many  striking  features,  is  that  of  the  Ana4 
baptists  of  Munster  in  Germany,  which  excited  the 
wonder  of  Europe  during  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  and  of  which  such  strange  accounts 
are  to  be  found  in  the  histories  of  that  epoch.  The 
similarity  between  the  principal  of  this  sect,  known 
as  John  of  Leyden,  and  Matthews,  not  only  in  doc- 
trine, but  in  worldly  observance,  and  especially  in 
the  passion  for  magnificence  of  apparel  and  luxu- 
rious living,  and  in  the  rites  and  ceremonies  exacted 
by  each,  is  so  remarkable  as  almost  to  lead  to  the 
conclusion,  although  heretofore  repudiated,  that  the 
more  recent  impostor  had  formed  himself  and  his 
creed,  designedly,  upon  the  model  of  his  ancient 
prototype.  The  mimber  of  deluded  proselytes  who 
blindly  followed  the  dictates  of  the  Anabaptist  leader 
was  at  one  time  so  great,  and  their  power  so  for- 
midable, that  several  princes  of  Germany  united 
against  them ;  and  it  was  not  until  after  a  vigorous 
siege,  and  an  obstinate  resistance,  that  the  city  of 
Munster,  of  which  the  fanatics  had  obtained  com- 

*  Waddington's  Church  History. 
Bb2 


294  MATTHIAS    AND 

plete  possession,  was  taken,  and  their  power  broken 
down. 

We  feel  confident  that  the  curiosity  of  the  reader 
will  be  gratified  by  a  brief  description  of  John  of 
Leyden  and  his  practices.  He  was  originally  a 
tailor,  and,  though  not  the  founder  of  the  sect,  ob- 
tained a  more  absolute  mastery  over  the  minds  of 
his  deluded  followers  than  any  former  false  prophet. 
Instigated,  no  doubt,  by  the  readiness  of  their  sub- 
mission to  his  assumed  authority  in  all  things,  he 
declared  that  he  had  a  commission  from  Heaven  to 
be  king  of  Israel  and  of  righteousness,  and  to  reign 
after  the  manner  of  King  David.  Accordingly,  he 
appointed  his  chancellor,  marshal,  chamberlain,  and 
other  royal  officers ;  maintained  a  most  luxurious 
table,  at  which,  like  the  kings  of  France,  he  ate  in 
public,  and  was  served  in  royal  state,  his  attendants 
kneeling  when  they  presented  to  him  dish  or  gobkt ; 
and  from  his  eight  wives  selected  one  to  be  his 
queen,  whose  separate  establishment  was  on  the 
same  scale  of  splendour  with  his  own.  The  king 
and  queen,  with  all  their  officers  and  courtiers,  were 
attired  in  the  most  costly  dresses — rich  silks,  furs, 
brocades,  and  jewels — purchased  with  the  plunder 
of  the  churches  and  the  clergy.  The  king's  public 
habit  was  a  suit  of  silver  tissue,  lined  with  crimson 
silk,  and  fastened  with  golden  buckles.  At  his  right 
hand  a  page  walked  or  rode,  bearing  an  open  Bible  ; 
and  on  the  left,  another  with  a  magnificent  sword. 
On  his  head  the  king  wore  a  triple  crown  of  gold, 
richly  adorned  with  gems ;  and  round  his  neck  he 
wore,  suspended  by  a  golden  chain,  a  singular  orna- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  295 

ment  of  gold,  representing  the  terrestrial  globe,  with 
a  cross  and  two  swords,  one  of  gold  and  the  other 
of  silver,  with  the  inscription,  "  King  of  Righteous- 
ness over  the  whole  world."  His  audiences  were 
held  upon  a  vast  platform  erected  in  the  market- 
place ;  on  this  he  appeared  seated  on  a  splendid 
throne,  with  his  counsellors  standing  below  him,  and 
all  who  had  any  suit  to  make  to  him  knelt  three 
times,  and  then  prostrated  themselves  before  him  as 
they  presented  their  petitions. 

Besides  the  title  of  king,  John  of  Leyden  also 
assumed  that  of  "  The  Father,"  and  the  first  pledge 
exacted  from  all  who  enrolled  themselves  among  his 
followers  was,  implicitly  to  do  his  will,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, to  suffer  death  at  his  command,  or  in  his  de- 
fence or  service.  He  enjoined  and  enforced  a 
community  of  goods,  or  rather  (as  has  since  been 
done  by  Matthews)  a  surrender  of  all  possessions, 
land,  money,  arms,  and  merchandise  to  him,  as  the 
Father  and  Lord  of  all,  to  be  employed  by  him  in 
the  universal  establishment  of  his  kingdom — and 
denounced  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  and  eternal 
damnation  on  all  such  as  refused  to  believe  in  him 
and  do  his  will.  He  declared,  as  also  did  his  fol- 
lowers, that,  until  he  came,  righteousness  had  not 
been  preached  upon  the  earth  since  the  Saviour;  and 
he  equally  denounced  the  Pope  and  Luther  the 
Reformer  as  teachers  of  unrighteousness.  All 
churches  and  convents  he  commanded  to  be  de- 
stroyed in  the  market-places  of  Baal ;  priests  and 
monks  he  denounced  as  children  of  darkness,  and 
all  sovereigns  he  would  put  to  death.     He  pro- 


296  MATTHIAS    AND 

claimed  the  wickedness  and  nullity  of  all  marriages, 
except  those  solemnized  by  himself  or  his  prophets, 
but  enjoined  polygamy,  himself  setting  the  example. 
Each  of  his  principal  followers  had  from  six  to  eight 
wives,  and  both  men  and  women  were  compelled  to 
marry.  Infidelity,  or  ill-treatment,  on  the  part  of  the 
husband  was  punished  with  death.  He  taught  that 
no  man  could  understand  the  Scriptures  but  himself, 
or  those  whom  he  enlightened  with  his  spirit,  and  all 
the  prophecies  in  the  Old  Testament,  relating  to  the 
Saviour,  he  applied  to  himself,  and  proclaimed  their 
fulfilment  in  the  establishment  of  his  kingdom. 

In  our  own  country,  the  most  surprising  instance 
of  imposture  and  delusion,  perhaps,  that  has  occur- 
red, was  that  of  the  Cochranites,  whose  enormities 
in  licentiousness  made  so  much  stir  in  Maine  and 
New-Hampshire  a  few  years  since.  Cochrane  was 
an  officer  in  the  army,  thrown  out  of  commission 
by  the  reduction  of  the  military  establishment  of  the 
United  States,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  last  war 
with  England.  Having  become  poor  and  penni- 
less, he  left  one  of  the  New-England  cities — Port- 
land, if  we  mistake  not — and  struck  off  into  the 
country,  seeking  his  fortune,  and  caring  not  whither 
he  went.  One  day,  as  night  drew  on,  he  found 
himself  near  a  farm-house,  weary  and  hungry,  and 
without  a  penny  to  purchase  a  mouthful  of  food,  or 
the  use  of  a  pillow  for  the  night.  The  thought 
struck  him  suddenly  of  throwing  himself  upon  the 
hospitality  of  the  farmer,  for  the  occasion,  in  the  char- 
acter of  a  minister.  Introducing  himself  as  such  to 
the  family,  he  was  gladly  received ;  and  as  the  coun- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  297 

try  was  new,  and  destitute  of  clergymen,  the  good 
people  forthwith  despatched  messengers  to  the  neigh- 
bours, that  a  minister  had  come  among  them,  and 
invited  them  in  to  attend  a  meeting.     The  impos- 
tor had  not  anticipated  so  speedy  a  trial  of  his  cleri- 
cal character  ;  but  having  assumed  it,  there  was  no 
escape — he  must  act  the  part  for  the  time  being  in  the 
best  way  he  could.     Being  neither  ignorant  nor  des- 
titute of  talents,  he  succeeded  in  acquitting  himself 
much  better  than  he  had  anticipated,  and  gave  so 
much  ^satisfaction  to  his  audience — not  very  dis- 
criminating, as  may  well  be  supposed — as  to  induce 
him  to  persevere  in  the  imposture  he  had  commenced. 
As   he   acquired    skill    and    confidence    by    prac- 
tice in  his  new  vocation,  his  popularity  increased, 
and  he  soon  found  it  a  profitable  occupation.     He 
was  followed  by  multitudes  ;  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he   announced  himself  as  some  great  one, 
and  founded  a  new  sect  of  religionists.     His  com- 
mand over  the  audiences  which   he   addressed  is 
said  to  have  been  wonderful,  and  his  influence  over 
his  followers  unbounded.     It  seemed  as  though  he 
possessed  some  potent  spell,  by  means  of  which  he 
was  enabled  to  hold  the  victims  of  his  impostures 
in  a  state  of  enchantment.      A  clerical  friend  (a  pro- 
fessor in  an  eastern  college)  has  informed  the  writer, 
that  having  heard  of  the  wonderful  sway  which  Coch- 
rane held  over  his  disciples,  and  indeed  of  the  im- 
pressions he  made  upon  casual  hearers,  he  determined 
one  evening  to  go  and  witness  his  performances 
himself.     While  present,  although  a  very  cool  and 
grave  personage,  he  assures  us  that  he  felt  some 


298  MATTHIAS    AND 

strange,  undefinable,  mysterious  influence  creeping 
over  him  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  was  obhged  actu- 
ally to  tear  himself  away  in  apprehension  of  the 
consequences.  This  gentleman,  however,  is  a  be- 
liever in  animal  magnetism,  and  is  inclined  to  attrib- 
ute the  power  of  Cochrane  to  that  cause.  It  was 
said  that  if  the  impostor  did  but  touch  the  hand  or 
neck  of  a  female,  his  power  over  her  person  and 
reason  was  complete.  The  consequence,  therefore, 
was  the  most  open  and  loathsome  sensuality.  So 
atrocious  was  his  conduct,  that  he  seduced  great 
numbers  of  females,  married  and  unmarried,  under 
the  pretext  of  raising  up  a  holy  race  of  men.  The 
peace  of  many  families  was  broken  up,  and  the  vil- 
lain kept  an  establishment  like  a  seraglio.  His  ca- 
reer, however,  was  happily  short.  But  enough  of 
these  disgusting  and  melancholy  commentaries  upon 
the  weakness  of  human  nature,  and  we  return  to  the 
principal  subject  of  our  history. 

It  may,  probably,  be  expected  of  the  writer,  that 
he  should  make  an  avowal  of  his  opinion  as  to  the 
soundness  or  unsoundness  of  the  mind  of  Matthews, 
although,  from  the  illustrations  that  have  been  given 
of  his  character,  habits,  conduct,  and  the  strange 
jumble  of  things  inexplicable,  taught  as  his  doctrines, 
every  reader  might  be  supposed  capable  of  forming 
an  opinion  for  himself.  As  it  respects  Mr.  Pierson, 
there  cannot  well  be  two  opinions.  He  was  seized 
with  monomania  as  early  as  1828,  and  the  malady  in- 
creased upon  him  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  which 
event  was  a  severe  shock  to  his  reason.  His  asso- 
ciation with  Matthews  completed  the  ruin  of  his 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  299 

mind,  although  upon  all  business  matters,  as  far  as 
they  could  be  disconnected  from  the  supposed  direct 
influences  and  instructions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  his 
intellectual  powers  and  faculties  were  as  active  and 
acute  as  ever.  His  legal  adviser  informs  the  writer, 
that  within  a  very  few  days  of  his  death,  he  came  to 
the  city  to  attend  to  a  case  before  an  examiner  in 
chancery,  and,  during  its  progress,  was  as  shrewd 
and  intelligent,  so  far  as  regarded  the  matter  in 
hand,  as  in  his  best  days.  But  we  learn  from  the 
ablest  physiologists — and,  indeed,  the  fact  is  within 
the  personal  knowledge  of  all  who  have  had  oppor- 
tunities of  studying  the  operations  of  the  "  mind 
diseased" — that  "  among  the  most  singular  phe- 
nomena connected  with  insanity,  we  must  reckon 
those  cases  in  which  the  hallucination  is  confined  to 
a  single  point,  while  on  every  other  subject  the  pa- 
tient speaks  and  acts  like  a  rational  man ;  and  he 
often  shows  the  most  astonishing  power  of  avoiding 
the  subject  of  his  disordered  impression,  when  cir- 
cumstances make  it  desirable  for  him  to  do  so."* 
The  books  abound  with  cases  in  close  coincidence 
with  that  of  Mr.  Pierson,  where  persons,  otherwise 
in  a  healthy  state  of  mind,  from  peculiar  circum- 
stances became  impressed  with  a  belief  in  visions 
and  revelations,  and  of  holding  intercourse  with 
spiritual  beings.  "  The  particular  character  of  these, 
perhaps,  arises  out  of  some  previous  processes  of 
the  mind,  or  strong  propensity  of  character ;  and 
the  notion  of  a  supernatural  revelation  may  proceed 

*  Abercrombie  on  the  Intellectual  Powers. 


300  MATTHIAS    AND 

flom  a  certain  feeling  of  the  new  and  peculiar  man* 
ner  in  which  the  impression  is  fixed  upon  the 
mind."*  Such,  beyond  all  question,  was  the  case 
of  Mr.  Pierson. 

The  case  of  Matthews  has  been  rendered  more 
difficult  of  solution  by  the  decision  of  the  court  and 
jury  at  Westchester.  It  is  indeed  possible  that  that 
decision  was  correct ;  but  the  writer  is  free  to  de- 
clare, that,  after  a  careful  investigation  of  his  char- 
acter, and  the  history  of  his  proceedings,  he  has  ar- 
rived at  a  different  conclusion  in  part.  His  shrewd- 
ness and  cunning,  and  the  point  and  felicity  of  his 
occasional  repartees,  have  been  supposed  to  make 
in  favour  of  the  soundness  of  his  faculties.  But 
the  cunning  and  adroitness  of  the  partially  insane  are 
proverbial.  Examples  in  point  have  often  been  ob- 
served by  the  writer,  in  his  occasional  visits  to  the 
insane  hospital  at  Bloomingdale — embracing  impos- 
ture, and  brilliant  sallies  of  wit,  biting  satire,  and 
pungent  repartee.  It  is  true  that  Matthews  has  al- 
ways been  discharged  when  arraigned  upon  the 
charge  of  insanity.  But  such  instances  are  not  of 
very  rare  occurrence.  Lord  Erskine  gives  a  very 
remarkable  history  of  a  man  who  indicted  Dr. 
Munro  for  confining  him  without  a  cause  in  a  mad- 
house. He  underwent  the  most  rigid  examination 
by  the  counsel  for  the  defendant  without  discovering 
any  appearance  of  insanity,  until  a  gentleman  came 
into  court  who  desired  a  question  to  be  put  to  him, 
respecting  a  princess  with  whom  he  had  corresponded 

*  Abercrombie< 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  301 

in   cherry  juice.      He    immediately  talked   about 
the  princess  in  the  most  insane  manner,  and  the 
cause  was  at  an  end.     But  this  having  taken  place 
in  Westminster,  he  commenced   another  action  in 
the  city  of  London,  and  on  this  occasion  no  effort 
could  induce  him  to  expose  his  insanity  ;  so  that  the 
cause  was  dismissed  only  by  bringing  against  him 
the  evidence  taken  at  Westminster.      On  another 
occasion  Lord  Erskine  examined  a  gentleman  who 
had  hidicted  his  brother  for  confining  him  as  a  ma- 
niac, and  the  examination  had  gone  on  for  a  great 
part  of  the  day  without  discovering  any  trace  of  in- 
sanity :  Dr.  Sims  then  came  into  court  and  informed 
the  .counsel  that  the  gentleman  considered  himself 
as  the  Saviour  of  the  world.     A  single  observation 
addressed  to  him  in  this  character  showed  his  in- 
sanity, and  put  an  end  to  the  cause.     Many  similar 
cases  might  be  cited.*     There  is  also  a  curious  case 
on  record,  where  an  insane  person,  on  his  way  in 
charge  of  a  professional   gentleman   to  an   insane 
asylum,  managed  to  counterfeit  the  sane  gentleman, 
and  caused  him  to  be  taken  into  the  hospital  and  se- 
cured instead  of  himself.     And  there  are  various 
reasons  which  compel  us  to  believe  the  fact  in  re- 
gard to  Matthews  to  be, — that  he  is  labouring  under 
monomania,  partly  hereditary  and   partly  superin- 
duced by  religious  fanaticism  and  phrensy.     This 
theory  is  supported  by  the  circumstances  and  the 
manner  in  which  the  disease  came  upon  him.      His 
system,  also,  if  that  may  be  called  system  which  has 

*  Abercrombie. 

Cc 


302  MATTHIAS    AND 

no  such  quality  appertaining  to  it,  betrays  an  un- 
sound intellect.  It  is  incredible  that  any  man,  feign- 
ing himself  mad,  or  in  his  sober  senses,  in  devising  a 
scheme  of  imposture  could  form  such  a  system  of 
utterly  preposterous  and  unintelligible  absurdities. 
It  is  true  that  he  always  had  reason  enough  at  his 
command  to  keep  quiet  when  in  danger,  and  he  de- 
sisted from  his  phrensied  vociferations  in  court  im- 
mediately on  perceiving  that  they  would  not  aid  his 
cause.  But  the  insane  are  proverbially  cowards ; 
and  the  perfect  docility  which  marked  his  demeanour 
in  an  instant,  and  when  raving  with  passion,  in  obe- 
dience to  the  landlord  of  the  hotel  at  the  Battery,  is 
a  strong  evidence  of  derangement.  Had  he  been 
actuated  by  a  prudent  forecast,  moreover,  with  the 
unbounded  influence  he  possessed  over  Pierson  and 
Folger,  he  might  have  enriched  himself  from  their 
estates  before  their  property  disappeared.  This  he 
did  not  do,  but  merely  contented  himse  f  with  ex- 
travagant dress  and  Hving,  without  apparently  taking 
thought  for  the  morrow.  But  in  addition  to  these, 
and  other  evidences  of  hallucination  that  might  be 
adduced,  insanity  is  with  him  a  family  affliction.  One 
of  his  brothers,  as  has  already  been  stated,  died  insane ; 
another,  the  writer  has  been  assured,  is  now  insane  ; 
and  every  member  of  the  family  is  said  at  one  time 
or  another  to  have  given  indications  of  a  disordered 
mind.  This  family  infirmity  is  a  very  strong  proof 
of  a  disordered  intellect  in  the  case  of  the  prophet. 
The  propensities  of  his  intellectual  character,  which 
had  been  kept  under  restraint  by  reason,  or  by  ex- 
ternal circumstances,  or  old  habits  which  had  been 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  303 

subdued  or  restrained,  developed  themselves  without 
control  under  the  temperance  and  relisjious  excite- 
ments in  which  he  took  part,  and  led  his  mind  into 
the  fancies  arising  out  of  them.  Visions  of  a  some- 
what distempered  imagination,  in  which  he  might 
formerly  have  indulged,  of  that  kind  usually  called 
day-dreams,  or  castle  building,  then  perhaps  recur- 
ring to  his  mind,  he  may  in  the  first  moments  of 
his  delirium  have  believed  in  their  real  existence.* 
Still,  he  has  not  been  without  "  method  in  his  mad- 
ness ;"  and  it  seems  clear  to  the  writer,  that,  with  a 
tinge  of  insanity,  he  is  also  much  of  a  knave, 
and  probably  a  dupe  likewise  in  part  to  his  own 
imposture. 

*  Abercrombie. 


304  MATTHIAS    AND 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Concluding  Observations — Religion  not  responsible  for  Mono- 
mania and  Delusion— Hallucinations  arising  from  other  Causes 
— Catalepsy — The  Power  of  Sympathy — Animal  Magnetism 
— Various  other  Phenomena  of  the  Mind — Catholic  Delusions 
— Epidemic  bodily  Affections — Mewing  and  biting  Nuns — 
Barclay's  Apology  for  the  Quakers — Religious  Excesses  in 
Kentucky — Fanaticism  of  the  Present  Day — Evil  Conse- 
quences upon  the  Church — Connected  with  the  Impostures  of 
Matthias — Fanaticism  and  Delusion  still  existing  in  New- 
York— 111  Effects  of  the  Ultraism  of  the  Day— Project  for  dis- 
pensing with  Wine  at  the  Eucharist — Conclusion. 

It  was  the  principal  and  almost  the  sole  design 
of  the  present  work  to  make  it  a  simple  record  of 
facts — leaving  theories  and  speculations  to  the  phi- 
losophers.    And  yet,  in  the  view  of  the  writer,  it 
would  be  a  course  of  questionable  propriety  to  send 
forth  a  volume  of  this  description  without  addressing 
a  few  words  of  caution,  especially  to   the  youthful 
reader,  that  he  is  by  no  means  to  take  it  for  granted 
that   the  gross  impieties  and  strong  delusions  we 
have  been  contemplating  are  to  be  charged  to  the 
account  of  the  Christian  religion.     The  disorder  of 
the  mind  usually  termed  monomania  by  the   physi- 
cians— being  that  form  of  mental  hallucination  in 
which  the  mind  is  absorbed  by  a  single  idea — arises 
from  various  moral  causes,  and  frequently  has  no 
connection  whatever  with  religious  subjects.     De- 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  305 

lusions  also,  deep,  dark,  and  often  fatal,  are  as  likely 
to  settle  upon  the  mind,  and  cloud  the  understanding, 
in  regard  to  other  matters,  as  upon  those  of  reli- 
gion. The  causes,  the  direction,  and  the  results, 
are  as  various  as  the  structure  of  the  mind,  and  the 
pursuits  of  men. 

The  delusion  in  the  early  history  of  New-England, 
on  the  subject  of  witchcraft,  which  prevailed  so  ex- 
tensively, and  which,  in  the  blindness  of  its  phrensy, 
doomed  so  many  innocent  victims  to  the  scaffold 
and  the  fagot,  was  partly  religious  and  partly  not, 
and  withal  thoroughly  fanatical.  It  has  been  at- 
tributed, and  that  not  without  a  show  of  reason,  to 
the  superstitious  era  in  which  those  excesses  oc- 
curred. But  if  so,  what  are  we  to  say  of  that  strong 
mental  delusion — and  none  was  ever  more  unac- 
countable or  more  melancholy — which,  in  the  present 
enlightened  age,  and  in  a  section  of  country  inhabited 
by  the  most  intelligent  people  in  this  union,  com- 
passed the  abduction  and  murder  of  a  few  citizens, 
in  revenge  for  an  imaginary  offence — not  against 
the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  state,  nor  to  the  per- 
sonal detriment  of  a  single  individual,  but  merely 
for  the  anticipated  infringement  of  a  regulation  of  a 
private  social  society  !  Most  assuredly,  the  mental 
malady  which  instigated  and  perpetrated  such  a 
crime,  and  which  was  shared  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  by  hundreds  of  respectable  and  intelligent 
men,  had  no  connection  with  the  religious  principle. 
Nor  was  the  fanatical  delusion  of  antimasonry,  which 
succeeded  it,  and  swept  like  a  hurricane  of  fire  over 
Cc2 


306  MATTHIAS    AND 

large  portions  of  our  country,  allied  to  that  prin- 
ciple. 

The  mania  which  prevailed  among  the  capitalists 
of  England  and  France,  in  the  memorable  instance 
of  the  South  Sea  Bubble,  affords  another  example  of 
delusion  equally  strong,  and  yet  upon  a  subject  still 
farther  removed  from  things  appertaining  to  religion. 
How  many  thousands  of  men,  heedless  and  blind, 
on  that  occasion  rushed  into  the  gulf  of  bankruptcy, 
as  if  bereft  of  reason,  impelled  by  the  desire  of  at 
once  realizing  fortunes  by  means  they  knew  not 
what,  and  from  sources  they  knew  not  whence ! 
Nor  was  this  mental  obliquity  peculiar  to  that  iso- 
lated instance  of  stupendous  stock-jobbing.  It  was 
more  strongly  developed  on  that  occasion,  because 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  scheme,  and  the  number 
and  consequence  of  its  dupes.  But  the  like  spirit 
is  yet  abroad,  and  ever  will  be,  whenever  new 
sources  and  objects  of  speculation  are  presented  to 
an  enterprising  community. 

Still  more  remarkable,  however,  and  yet  more  ab- 
surd than  any  or  all  these,  was  the  delusion  which 
spread  over  Europe  some  half  a  century  ago  ;  and 
which  has  at  various  times  been  revived,  and  is  by 
no  means  extinct  at  the  present  time,  on  the  subject  of 
animal  magnetism.  There  is  no  greater  absurdity 
extant  in  popular  opinion,  than  the  fancied  analogy 
between  the  action  of  the  mineral  magnet  and  that 
of  the  animal  energy,  maintained  by  the  disciples 
of  Anthony  Mesmer,  the  German  impostor,  who 
turned  the  heads  of  half  the  savans  of  Europe  upon 
this  subiect.     No  more   audacious  or  successful 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  307 

mountebank,  probably,  ever  lived  than  Mesmer. 
But  although  compelled  to  quit  Vienna  in  conse- 
quence of  being  detected  in  a  fraudulent  miracle  he 
had  attempted,  yet  his  career  in  Paris  afterward  was 
one  of  unexampled  success.  The  magnet  soon 
grew  into  comparative  disuse,  and  the  impostor  de- 
clared that  the  pretended  cures  wrought  by  him  were 
effected  by  a  mysterious  power  in  his  own  person, 
and  that  this  power  was  allied  not  only  to  the  mag- 
netic power,  but  to  the  attraction  dispersed  through- 
out the  universe.  Monstrous  as  were  his  pre- 
tensions, he  obtained  credence,  and  for  a  while 
all  Europe,  including  princes,  and  learned  doctors, 
scholars,  and  philosophers,  were  among  his  believers. 
There  were  no  more  splendid  salons  in  Paris  than 
his,  and  none  more  universally  and  fashionably 
thronged. 

It  will  not  be  pretended,  we  apprehend,  that  a  de- 
lusion like  this,  had  any  connection  with  the  reli- 
gious principle — and  analogous  examples  might  be 
multiplied  to  an  almost  indefinite  extent,  were  more 
necessary  to  establish  the  position  we  are  maintain- 
ing. But  it  is  believed  the  few  cases  to  which  brief 
reference  has  been  made,  will  be  amply  sufficient 
for  the  present  purpose. 

Perhaps,  however,  it  may  yet  be  objected  by  the 
skeptic,  that  the  examples  cited  are  exceptions, 
standing  alone,  at  the  distance  of  long  intervals  of 
years,  and  that,  after  all,  monomania  has  been  both 
more  strikingly  and   more   frequently  exhibited  in 

*  Vide  Appendix,  H. 


308  MATTHIAS    AND 

connection  with  religion,  than  upon  any  other  sub- 
ject. The  answer  is  nevertheless  at  hand.  Mono- 
mania, and  indeed  every  form  of  insanity,  depends 
for  its  existence,  in  any  individual  case,  upon 
physical  causes.  Certain  persons  possess  from 
birth,  hereditarily,  or  otherwise,  a  physical  organiza- 
tion which  predisposes  them  to  paroxysms  of  insanity 
on  the  occurrence  of  any  considerable  excitement, 
whether  mental  or  physical.  In  such  instances,  it 
is  no  more  an  argument  against  religion,  that  it  does 
not  protect  its  votaries  from  such  calamities,  or 
counteract  such  predispositions,  than  to  object  that 
it  does  not  cure  the  gout,  or  prevent  the  consump- 
tion. The  disorder  is,  moreover,  certain  to  fasten 
upon  the  strongest  principle  of  our  nature ;  and 
it  is  the  religious  principle,  beyond  all  doubt,  which 
is  at  once  the  strongest  and  the  most  universally 
felt,  and  to  which  the  appeal  is  the  most  easily 
made. 

The  doctrine  of  supernatural  and  Divine  influ- 
ence acting  upon  the  body  as  well  as  the  mind,  is 
as  old  as  the  history  of  man.  The  religious  history 
of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  of  Britain  under  the 
priesthood  of  the  Druids,  of  India,  and,  in  general, 
of  all  savage  tribes,  is  full  of  its  fruits.  The  con- 
vulsions of  the  Pythian  priestess, — the  contortions 
of  the  Sibyl — the  vast  variety  of  convulsive  and 
cataleptic  phenomena  among  the  devotees  in  India, 
and  also  among  the  spinning  dervishes  of  the  Mo- 
hammedans, may  be  adduced  as  illustrations.  But 
as  the  Christian  religion  makes  the  deepest  and 
Strongest  impressions  upon  the  mind  and  feelings, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  309 

it,  of  course,  furnishes  one  of  the';  most  effectual 
of  those  conditions  under  which  the  principles  of 
sympathy,  imitation,  nervous  sensibihty,  and  imagi- 
nation are  excited  to  the  production  of  such  phe- 
nomena. 

Nothing,  then,  can  be  more  natural  than  that  the 
history  of  Christianity  should  abundantly  illustrate 
this  order  of  delusions,  of  which  the  principal  facts 
comprised  in  the  foregoing  pages  form  but  another 
chapter — more  strongly  marked,  however,  in  some 
of  its  developments,  than  the  historian  is  often  under 
the  necessity  of  placing  upon  record.  Nor  are 
these  delusions  in  any  respect  peculiar,  as  some  are 
disposed  to  maintain,  to  Protestants,  or  those  who, 
for  the  convenience  of  designation,  are  known  as 
Evangelical  Christians.  "  The  influence  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion,  especially  in  the  middle 
ages,  connected,  as  it  then  was,  with  the  pomp  of  pro- 
cessions, with  public  exercises  of  penance,  and  with 
innumerable  practices  which  strongly  excited  the 
imaginations  of  its  votaries,  certainly  brought  the 
mind  to  a  very  favourable  state  for  the  reception  of 
a  nervous  disorder.  Accordingly,  so  long  as  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity  were  blended  with  so  much 
mysticism,  unhallowed  disorders  prevailed  to  an 
important  extent ;  and  even  in  our  days  we  find 
them  propagated  with  the  greatest  facility  where 
the  existence  of  superstition  produces  the  greatest 
effect  in  more  limited  districts,  as  it  once  did 
among  whole  nations."* 


'& 


Hecker's  Epidemics  of  the  Middle  Ages. 


310  MATTHIAS    AND 

The  history  of  the  enthusiasts  of  Cevennes,  called 
Camisards, — of  the  Convulsionaries  of  St.  Medad, 
and  the  work  just  referred  to,  are  full  of  facts  upon 
this  subject — proving  that  monomania,  fanaticism, 
and  delusion  are  not  only  sympathetic,  but  epidemic 
diseases.  "  The  imaginations  of  women,"  says  Dr. 
Babbington,  "  are  always  more  excitable  than  those 
of  men,  and  they  are  therefore  susceptible  of  every 
folly  when  they  lead  a  life  of  strict  seclusion,  and 
their  thoughts  are  constantly  turned  inward  upon 
themselves.  Hence  in  orphan  asylums,  hospitals, 
and  convents,  the  nervous  disorder  of  one  female 
so  easily  and  quickly  becomes  the  disorder  of  all. 
I  have  read  in  a  good  medical  work  that  a  nun,  in 
a  very  large  convent  in  France,  began  to  mew  like 
a  cat ;  shortly  afterward  other  nuns  also  mewed  to- 
gether every  day  at  a  certain  time,  for  several  hours 
together.  The  whole  surrounding  Christian  neigh- 
bourhood heard,  with  equal  chagrin  and  astonish- 
ment, this  daily  cat-concert,  which  did  not  cease 
until  all  the  nuns  were  informed  that  a  company  of 
soldiers  were  placed  by  the  police  before  the  entrance 
of  the  convent,  and  that  they  were  provided  with 
rods,  and  would  continue  whipping  them  until  they 
promised  not  to  mew  any  more.  But  of  all  the 
epidemics  of  females  which  I  myself  have  seen  in 
Germany,  or  of  which  the  history  is  known  to  me, 
the  most  remarkable  is  the  celebrated  Convent-epi- 
demic of  the  fifteenth  century,  which  Cardan  de- 
scribes, and  which  peculiarly  proves  what  I  would 
here  enforce.  A  certain  nun  in  Germany  fell  to 
biting  all  her  companions.     In  the  course  of  a  short 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  311 

time  all  the  nuns  of  this,  convent  began  biting  each 
other.  The  news  of  this  infatuation  among  the 
nuns  soon  spread,  and  it  passed  from  convent  to 
convent  throughout  a  great  part  of  Germany,  princi- 
pally Saxony  and  Brandenburg.  It  afterward  visited 
the  nunneries  of  Holland,  and  at  last  the  nuns  had 
the  biting  mania  even  as  far  as  Rome." 

The  propagation  of  epileptic  and  other  convulsions 
is  well  established.  When  an  individual  in  a  crowd  is 
seized  with  these  affections,  the  disorder  very  com- 
monly spreads  itself  through  the  crowd.  From  the 
occurrence  and  rapid  propagation  of  epilepsy  among 
the  crowded  political  assemblies  (comitia)  of  the 
Romans,  this  affection  was  called  the  morbus  comi- 
tialis ;  and  in  order  to  prevent  its  spread  on  such 
occasions,  a  law  was  passed  to  break  up  the  comitia, 
and  disperse  the  crowd  on  the  first  occurrence  of  a 
case. 

A  striking  illustration  of  the  effects  of  the  princi- 
ple of  involuntary  imitation  and  imagination  upon 
persons  brought  together  in  a  close  assembly^  even 
where  nothing  is  spoken,  occurs  in  Barclay's  Apol- 
ogy for  the  Quakers.  After  speaking  of  the  Di- 
vine influence  as  coming  down  upon  them,  and  pro- 
ducing "  a  trembling,  and  a  motion  of  the  body  upon 
most  if  not  all,"  he  proceeds  to  say :  "  and  from 
this  the  name  Quakers  or  Tremblers  was  first  re- 
proachfully cast  upon  us,  which,  if  it  be  not  of  our 
own  choosing,  yet  we  are  not  ashamed  of  it,  but 
have  rather  reason  to  rejoice  in  this  respect,  even 
that  we  are  sensible  of  this  power  that  hath  some- 
times laid  hold  on  our  adversaries,  and  made  them 


312  MATTHIAS    AND 

yield  to  us,  and  join  with  us,  and  confess  to  the  truth, 
before  they  had  any  doctrines^  so  that  sometimes 
many  at  one  meetiiig  have  been  thus  convinced:  and 
power  would  sometimes  also  reach  to,  and  wonder- 
fully irork,  even  in  little  children,  to  the  astonish-' 
ment  and  admiratioii  of  many  P' 

About  thirty  or  thirty-five  years  ago,  there  was  an 
extensive  revival  of  rehgion  (so  called)  in  Kentucky, 
characterized  by  the  greatest  fanaticism,  accompa- 
nied by  a  great  variety  of  bodily  affections,  and  run« 
ning  into  many  painful  excesses.  These  fanatics 
were  reducible  to  various  classes,  some  of  which  were 
affected  by  ''the /«//ing- exercise;"  and  others  by 
what  was  called  the  ^^  jerking  exercise  ;"  others  were 
moved  by  the  Spirit  to  propose  the  "  running  exer- 
cise ;"  and  others  again  the  "  climbing  exercise" — 
all  which  exercises  are  sufficiently  indicated  by  their 
names.  It  was  a  frequent  occurrence  for  a  number 
of  the  people  to  gather  round  a  tree,  some  praying, 
and  others  imitating  the  barking  of  dogs,  which  oper- 
ation was  called,  in  familiar  parlance  among  them, 
"  treeing  the  devil."  It  was  stated  also  concerning 
the  same  people,  that  in  their  religious  assemblies, 
or  other  places  of  worship,  religious  professors  of 
zeal  and  standing  would  get  out  into  the  broad  aisle, 
and  go  down  upon  their  knees  together,  playing  mar- 
bles, and  other  childish  games,  under  the  notion  of 
obeying  that  saving  of  the  Saviour — "  except  ye  be 
converted,  and  oecome  as  little  children,  ye  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;'^  others  would 
ride  up  and  down  the  aisles  of  the  church  on  sticks, 
&c.     It  was  further  said  that  the  religious  leaders. 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  313 

or  at  least  one  of  them,  by  the  name  of  M'Namara, 
would  affect  to  personate  Satan  :  that  on  a  certain 
occasion  during  Camp-meeting  he  was  creeping 
about  among  the  people's  feet,  exclaiming,  "  I  am 
the  old  serpent  that  tempted  Eve  :"  when  approacli- 
ing  in  this  manner  to  a  Scotchman  who  was  on  the 
ground  as  a  spectator,  the  man  lifted  up  his  heel,  and 
stamping  on  the  face  of  the  minister,  replied,  "  The 
seed  of  the  woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head." 
This  man,  M'Namara,  was  regarded  among  them 
with  superstitious  reverence,  insomuch  that  it  was 
common  for  them  to  sing,  in  worship,  a  hymn,  hav- 
ing for  its  chorus — "  Glory  to  God  and  M'Nama- 
ra." A  pious  friend  of  the  writer,  who  was  at  the 
time  a  student  of  theology  under  the  late  Dr.  Ma- 
son, states  that  these  facts  were  reported  by  his  fel- 
low students  from  Kentucky,  one  of  whom  actually 
heard  the  blasphemous  chorus  sung !  And  yet  all 
these  affections,  these  "fantastic  tricks,"  which  might 
well  "  make  angels  weep,"  were  fully  believed  to 
be  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit — the  fruits  and  evi- 
dences of  conversion, — and  it  would  have  been  bold 
impiety  and  blasphemy  to  doubt  it. 

This  brief  sketch  of  the  Kentucky  enthusiasm 
brings  us  back  to  the  point  we  had  in  view  in  the 
commencement  of  the  volume,  and  of  which,  it  is 
hoped,  we  have  never  lost  sight,  viz.  the  great 
danger  of  running  into  extremes,  and  making  our- 
selves wise  above  what  is  written.  What  sober 
Christian  does  not  shrink  with  pain,  sorrow,  and  dis- 
gust from  proceedings  like  those  just  related,  car- 
ried on  under  the  name  of  religion,  and  with  an  im- 


314  MATTHIAS    AND 

pious  confidence  referred  to  the  direct  agency  of 
the  Holy  Spirit !  And  yet  they  are  scarcely  more 
extravagant  or  revolting  than  have  been  witnessed 
in  our  own  day,  and  in  some  of  the  most  enlightened 
regions  of  our  own  state.  Look  at  the  present  con- 
dition of  the  churches  of  western  New- York,  which 
have  become,  in  truth,  "  a  people  scattered  and 
peeled."  The  time  has  not  come  to  write  the  ec- 
clesiastical history  of  the  last  ten  years.  And  yet 
somebody  should  chronicle  the  facts  now,  lest  in 
after  times  the  truth,  however  correctly  it  may  be 
preserved  by  tradition,  should  not  be  believed. 
Twenty  years  hence,  who,  probably,  would  believe 
that  early  in  the  second  quarter  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, Christian  parents  in  the  state  of  New- York 
could  have  been  induced,  by  the  teachings  of  fanati- 
cism, to  whip  their  children  with  rods  into  re- 
pentance ?  Who,  twenty  years  hence,  would  be 
willing  to  believe  that  for  the  purpose  of  helping  on 
a  revival  of  religion,  its  managers  would  station  a 
trumpeter  privately  in  the  belfry  of  a  church,  to 
startle  the  congregation  at  a  particular  point  of  a 
sermon  on  the  final  judgment,  by  winding  a  blast 
on  his  instrument  as  the  minister  spoke  of  the  sound- 
ing of  the  last  trumpet  !* 

The  writer  entertains  no  doubt,  that  many  true 

"^  This  transaction  is  said  to  have  taken  place  in  Massachu 
setts  or  Vermont,  some  four  or  five  years  since.  The  writer  saw  a 
printed  account  of  it,  but  it  is  not  within  his  reach:  it  is  to  be  hoped 
thatthepubhcationwasnottrue.  But  other  means,  equally  excep 
tionable,  are  notorious  in  the  career  of  some  of  the  roving  evan- 
gehsts  who  have  distracted  and  rent  asunder  so  many  churches. 
The  reports,  printed  and  verbal,  that  have  been  coinnmnicated 
to  the  writer  respecting  the  proceedings  of  the  celebrated  Mr. 
Burchard,  almost  equal  in  phrensy,  if  not  impiety,  the  vagaries 


Ills    IMPOSTURES.  315 

conversions  have  occurred  under  the  system  to 
which  he  is  referring.  But  as  with  the  ground  over 
which  the  hghtning  has  gone,  scorching  and  wither- 
ing every  green  thing,  years  may  pass  away  before 
the  arid  wastes  of  the  church  will  be  grown  over 
by  the  living  herbage. 

These  facts  and  reflections  have  been  introduced 
in  this  place,  because  it  is  believed  that  the  melan- 
choly and  humiliating  chapter  in  the  philosophy  of 
the  human  mind,  comprised  in  the  present  volume, 
forms  a  portion  of  the  same  history.  The  delusion 
originated  in  the  same  spirit  of  fanaticism  which 
has  transformed  so  many  Christian  communities  in 
the  northern  and  western  parts  of  New- York,  and 
states  contiguous,  into  places  of  moral  waste  and 
spiritual  desolation.  The  error  was  cherished  and 
prolonged  in  the  same  spirit ;  and,  proceeding  step 
by  step  from  one  degree  of  extravagance  to  another, 
at  last,  under  the  teachings  of  the  pretended 
prophet,  who  had  also  begun  his  career  in  the 
same  school,  the  measure  of  iniquity  became  full 
and  running  over.  Nor  have  we  seen  the  end  even 
yet.     In  the  Perfectionism,  which  began  at  Albany 


of  Matthews  himself.  A  gentleman  of  great  respectability  states, 
that  when  he  was  in  the  western  part  of  New-York,  a  year  or 
two  since,  he  was  told  by  a  person  whom  he  perfectly  beheved, 
of  the  following  instance  of  a  procedure  of  Mr.  Burchard  : — 

After  havmg  by  persuasion  and  the  use  of  the  most  exciting 
language,  and  even  taking  hold  of  individuals,  got  a  company  of 
persons  of  both  sexes  upon  then-  knees  to  pray — ranged  in  two 
parallel  lines,  facing  each  other — he  began  to  pass  up  and  down 
between  them,  crying  out,  with  great  violence,  repeatedly,  "  Ago- 
nize, I  tell  you  !  Why  don't  you  agonize  ! — agonize  !"  &c.  &c. 
In  this  way  he  continued  for  a  considerable  time,  exciting  them 
l£>  pray ;  exclaiming,  "  Pray  away  ! — Pray  away  ! — I  have  not 
had  a  conversion  these  twenty  minutes  ! !" 


316  MATTHIAS    AND 

about  the  time  that  Matthews  commenced  his  ca- 
reer, and  which  has  recently  appeared  in  New- 
Haven  with  some  force,  as  also  in  several  other 
places  in  New-England,  we  may  discern  another 
of  the  same  parent.  These  Perfectionists  believe 
that  they  have  the  inward  Christ — can  do  no  wrong 
— that  to  the  pure  ail  things  are  pure — that  Christ 
is  responsible  for  all  they  do — and  other  such  blas- 
phemous absurdities.  In  their  practices,  too,  as  the 
writer  is  informed,  from  proofs  which  cannot  in  the 
nature  of  things  be  very  long  concealed,  there  is 
reason  to  apprehend  that  the  licentious  abomina- 
tions of  the  Fifth  Monarchy-men  of  England,  the 
followers  of  Joanna  Southcote,  and  the  Mormons, 
will  soon  find  another  parallel.  Indeed,  a  section 
of  the  Mormons  and  Perfectionists  have  been  al- 
ready united,  as  we  have  been  assured  from  an  in- 
telligent source,  while  these  sheets  are  passing 
through  the  press. 

Nor  yet  is  this  all.  In  one  of  its  ramifications, 
the  same  delirious  enthusiasm  which  has  been  ex- 
posed in  the  preceding  pages,  is  still  at  work  and 
flourishing  in  the  city  of  New- York,  under  the 
conduct  of  an  individual  who  was  associated  v/ith 
"  The  Holy  Club,"  described  in  our  second  chap- 
ter, and  afterward,  for  a  time,  with  Mr.  Pierson, 
and  the  community  at  Bowery  Hill.  The  eccen- 
tric individual  referred  to,  however,  who  at  pres- 
ent is  the  chief  personage  in  this  delusion,  is 
generally  esteemed  as  a  well-meaning  and  sincere 
man  ;  nor  has  any  moral  impropriety  ever  been 
alleged  against  him.  lie  officiates,  like  Mr.  Pier- 
son,  in  "  his  own  hired  house,"  in  an  upper  room 


HI3    IMPOSTURES.  317 

fitted   for   the   purpose,  and  his   congregation  is 
chiefly  composed  of  females,  a  large  number  of 
whom  are  in  his  employ.  Every  Sunday,  and  on  one 
or  two  evenings  of  the  week,  he  assembles  these 
females,  and  such  visiters  of  both  sexes  as  choose 
to   attend,  for  religious  meetings.     And   although 
he  is  regarded  by  his  followers  as  almost  superhu- 
man, and  professes   immediate  inspiration,  yet  all 
are  allowed  to  speak  in  their  meetings.     Many  of 
their  speeches  consist  of  revelations,  dreams,  and 
visions ;  and  after  each  has  made  his  or  her  rela- 
tion, their  prophet  interprets  them  by  Divine  and 
infallible  authority.     He  has  varied  his  pretensions 
at  different  periods,  professing  sometimes   greater 
gifts    than   at    others.     Some  years   since   he  de- 
clared himself  empowered  hy  faith  to  discern  spir- 
its^ cast  out  devils,  heal  diseases,  and  perform  other 
miracles;  and  some  of  his  followers  have  professed 
to  be    similarly  endowed.     He   was    an  intimate 
friend  of  Mr.  Pierson,  and  was   sent  for  to   anoint 
Mrs.  P.  before  her  death  ;  but  did  not  arrive  in 
time.     He  was  present,  however,  at  the  attempted 
resurrection,  and  seemed  full  of  faith  in   the  suc- 
cess of  that   promised    miracle.     Indeed,  he  has 
often  practised  the  anointing  of  the  sick,  and  some 
of  his  followers  profess  to  be  living  witnesses  of 
his  healing  powers  by  the  laying  on  of  his  hands. 
He  believes  that  all  cases  of  insanity  are  examples 
of  diabolical  possession,  and  relates  instances  of 
his  having  cast  out  devils.     In  one  of  these  cases 
of  diabolical  dispossession,  it  is  related,  that  "  when 
the  devil  went  out   of  the   man,  he   barked  like  a 
dog."     When  any  of  his   miracles  fail,  he   alleges 
Dd2 


318  MATTHIAS    AND 

the  want  of  faith  in  the  patient,  or  on  the  part  of 
some  one  present,  as  the  only  cause.  Some  of  his 
followers  have  spent  much  time  in  searching  for 
Captain  Kidd's  money,  both  men  and  women  hav- 
ing been  digging  in  the  earth  on  Staten-Island,  and 
elsewhere,  during  whole  nights.  Trances  are  not 
unfrequent  among  them,  in  which  they  obtain  mar- 
vellous revelations.  A  short  time  since,  a  black 
woman  fell  into  a  trance,  which  is  said  to  have  lasted 
three  days  and  nights,  and  being  one  of  the  disci- 
ples, she  related  her  manifestations  at  the  meeting, 
saying  that  she  had  been  in  heaven  and  in  hell,  in 
which  latter  place  she  saw  several  of  the  ministers 
who  now  reside  in  this  city,  whose  names  she 
repeated.  Subsequently  she  visited  a  number  of 
them  at  their  houses,  as  the  bearer  of  a  message 
from  the  other  world,  which  she  was  commanded 
to  deliver  in  person.  All  this  was  fully  credited  by 
the  deluded  victims  of  the  individual  and  his  asso- 
ciates, to  whom  allusion  has  just  been  made. 

It  is  but  just  to  record,  that  he  refused  to  ac- 
knowledge the  impostor  Matthews,  though  urged 
thereto  by  his  friend  Mr.  Pierson,  because  he  dis- 
cerned his  spirit.  So,  also,  when  Mr.  P.  himself 
assumed  to  be  the  prophet  Elijah,  this  gentleman 
would  not  receive  his  testimony,  and  their  inter- 
course ceased  soon  afterward.  And  yet,  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  the  exposure  of  Matthews,  so  far 
from  annihilating  this  delusion,  seems  only  to  in- 
crease it ;  and  it  never  was  more  numerously  pat- 
ronised than  at  this  very  time.  It  is  to  be  feared 
that  some  who  have  narrowly  escaped  the  former, 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  319 

and  have  nearly  suffered  thereby  the  loss  of  all 
things,  are  even  now  entangled  m  the  latter  snare. 
Whereunto  this  matter  may  grow  cannot  be  fore- 
told :  little  hazard  is  incurred,  however,  by  the  pre- 
diction, that  no  good  will  come  of  it,  while  incalcu- 
lable evil  may. 

And  now,  what  shall  be  said  in  conclusion  of  the 
whole  matter  ?  In  the  history  of  Matthews,  and 
those  who  both  preceded  and  followed  him,  the 
foregoing  pages  have  been  written  with  a  view  of 
warning  the  Christian  public,  by  the  presentation 
of  simple  facts,  against  cherishing  a  spirit  of  fanat- 
icism. The  author  has  diligently  sought  for  the 
truth  ;  and  he  believes  he  has  succeeded  in  collect- 
ing a  chain  of  facts,  which,  though  many  of  them 
were  of  a  private  nature,  are  all  of  an  extraor- 
dinary and  painful  character,  and  are  not  the  less 
important  to  be  known,  that  others,  looking  at  their 
origin,  and  tracing  their  progress,  may  be  deterred 
from  the  adoption  of  a  course  in  matters  of  reh'gion 
that,  by  possibility,  may  lead  to  the  same  danger- 
ous extremes,  and  ultimately  into  the  same  dark 
and  painful,  if  not  fatal  delusions  disclosed  in  this 
book. 

It  has  been  seen  in  the  course  of  this  nar- 
rative how  perilous  it  is  for  the  Christian  professor 
to  indulge  in  an  uncharitable  and  censorious  spirit 
— to  set  up  standards  of  faiih  and  practice  of  his 
own,  irrespective  of  the  simple  requisitions  of  the 
word  of  God,  taken  in  their  most  obvious  sense, 
and  in  their  own  native  simplicity  and  beauty.  It 
has  been  well  remarked  by  Robert  Philip,  that 
**  the  men  who  would  say  to  others,  '  stand  aside. 


320  MATTHIAS    AND 

for  I  am  holier  than  thou,'  are  Pharisees,  who  have 
little  or  no  dependence  on  grace.  In  like  manner, 
all  who  plume  themselves  on  being  special  favour- 
ites of  Heaven,  and  despise  others  as  non-elect, 
pay,  of  all  men,  the  least  respect  to  the  grace  they 
pretend  to  have  received.  They  either  turn  it  into 
licentiousness,  or  employ  it  as  an  excuse  for  idle- 
ness." In  the  melancholy  chain  of  circumstances 
and  events  we  have  been  contemplating,  illustra- 
tions the  most  ample  have  been  found  of  the  just- 
ness of  these  remarks.  The  difficulties  commenced 
— the  delusion — gross,  palpable,  and  lamentable  as 
it  became  in  its  progress,  and  fatal  to  the  life  of 
one  truly  excellent  man  in  the  end — had  its  origin 
in  the  fanaticism  of  a  single  individual — and  that 
person  remained  the  guiding  spirit  through  the 
whole  progress  of  the  mental  malady,  in  all  its 
stages,  excepting  only  in  regard  to  the  pretended 
prophet,  of  whom  she  disapproved.  We  recollect 
well  the  remark  of  a  lady  of  delightful  piety — one  of 
the  sweetest  and  most  intelligent  Christians  we  ever 
knew,  when  the  individual  referred  to  commenced 
her  career  of  lofty  pretensions  to  holiness  on  her 
own  part,  and  of  fault-finding  and  cruel  denuncia- 
tions, in  regard  to  the  spirit  she  thus  evinced,  and 
the  course  into  which  it  would  lead.  The  lady  to 
whom  we  allude  is  the  wife  of  a  clergyman — and 
no  Christian  couple  on  earth,  probably,  have  been 
more  united  and  happy  in  their  lives,  or  have  dif- 
fused a  more  beneficial  and  salutary  influence  in 
society.  She  remarked,  in  substance,  that  she  had 
seen  many  instances  of  this  severe  and  fault-finding 


HIS    IMPOSTURES,  S2| 

spirit,  but  never  beheld  any  good  resulting  from  its 
exercise.  On  the  contrary,  those  who  thus  in- 
dulged in  all  uncharitableness,  were  very  certain 
themselves  to  run  into  the  extreme,  either  of  an 
eventual  disregard  of  all  religion  and  the  indulgence 
of  excessive  gayety  on  the  one  hand,  or  by  setting 
up  as  the  head  and  leader  of  a  sect  on  the  other. 
The  prediction  was  speedily  fulfilled  in  the  pro- 
ceedings with  which  the  reader  is  already  ac- 
quainted, especially  at  Bowery  Hill. 

Undoubtedly  the  great  error  of  the  times  in 
which  we  live,  and  especially  in  our  own  country, 
is  a  tendency  to  ultraism,  not  only  in  regard  to  the 
concerns  of  religion,  but  likewise  in  respect  to 
most  if  not  all  the  great  principles  and  objects 
which  are  now  engrossing  the  attention  of  man. 
We  are  running  into  extremes  upon  almost  every 
thing  we  undertake.  In  politics,  we  are  in  danger 
of  carrying  the  principles  of  liberty  to  licentious- 
ness. In  matters  of  philanthropy,  instead  of  that 
quiet  and  modest  principle  of  action  which  would 
shrink  from  allowing  the  right-hand  to  know  what 
the  left  is  doing,  we  have  too  much  of  parade  and 
ostentation — too  much  blowing  of  trumpets.  In 
morals,  whenever  a  hobby  is  started,  we  are  eager 
in  outvying  each  other,  even  beyond  the  require- 
ments of  the  moral  law  itself;  and  in  the  impetu- 
osity of  this  excess  of  zeal,  we  grieve  to  say,  the 
sacred  cause  of  temperance  bids  fair  to  be  arrested 
in  its  progress,  if  not  ruined,  by  the  indiscretions 
and  the  fanaticism  of  its  friends.  It  was  in  view 
of  this  spirit  of  ultraism  that  one  of  the  distin- 


322  MATTHIAS    AND 

guished  orators  at  the  recent  religious  anniversaries, 
shrewdly  remarked,  that  often,  when  a  good  cause 
has  been  begun,  if  the  Devil  finds  there  is  no  other 
way  to  ruin  it,  he  will  turn  charioteer  himself. 
No  stronger  illustration  of  the  truth  of  this  remark 
could  well  be  added,  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  re- 
cent measures  and  proceedings  of  some  good  men, 
who  are  labouring  with  more  zeal  than  prudence, 
or  knowledge  of  human  nature,  in  the  temperance 
cause.  Not  only  have  we  seen  the  cutting  down 
of  orchards,  and  the  pouring  of  wine  into  the  streets, 
but  grave  and  reverend  divines  are  at  length,  in 
the  exuberance  of  their  zeal,  proposing  to  abolish 
wine  in  the  solemn  institution  of  the  Eucharist  !* 

In  the  solemn  affairs  of  religion,  moreover,  in- 
stead of  looking  into  our  own  hearts,  and  repenting 
of  our  own   sins,  we  are   striving  to  look   into  the 

*  A  series  of  articles  are  now  in  the  course  of  publication  in 
the  Connecticut  Observer,  the  writer  of  which  is  understood  to 
be  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin,  of  Wethersfield,  proposing  to  dispense 
with  wine  at  the  Communion.  Among  other  thnigs,  he  more 
than  intimates  his  opinion  that  much  that  is  taken^for  holy  en- 
joyment at  those  seasons,  is  animnl  excitement  from  the  stimulus, 
or  intoxicating  effect  of  the  wine ;  and  that  church-members 
take  a  carnal  pleasure  in  the  liquor.  Professor  Hitchcock,  of 
Amherst,  is  also  understood  to  be  writing  to  the  same  effect.  A 
highly-valued  clerical  friend,  now  in  New-York,  has  given  tlie 
writer  the  following  extract  from  a  dialogue  between  himself 
and  one  of  these  ultra -preachers  of  temperance  : — 

<'  Well,  Mr.  ******,  supposing  Jesus  Christ  came  on  the 
earth  again,  and  should  happen  into  a  prayer-meeting  of  your 
flisciples,  and  as  he  entered  the  whisper  should  go  round  that 
he  had  just  come  from  making  wine  for  a  festive  occasion,  where 
the  party  had  al really  drunk  pretty  well  before— would  you  ask 
him  to  malie  a  prayer  ?" 

"  No  !"  (striking  his  fist  upon  the  table),  "  that  I  would  not," 
was  the  reply ! 


HIS    IMPOSTURES.  323 

hearts  of  others,  and  take  care  of  them,  in  our  own 
way,  and  to  the  danger,  we  fear,  of  our  own  souls. 
The  appointed  means  of  grace  are  contemned  ;  we 
wish  to  do  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  as  it  were,  by 
machinery  ;  and  instead  of  depending  upon  the 
Spirit  of  God,  and  seeking  to  catch  the  genial 
currents  of  that  wind  which  bloweth  where  it  listeth, 
and  of  which  we  only  hear  the  sound,  but  canno 
tell  whence  it  cometh,  or  whither  it  goeth,  we  are 
striving  to  raise  hurricanes  ourselves.  But  unless 
the  writer  is  greatly  deceived  in  his  estimate  of  the 
facts  detailed  in  the  present  volume,  they  ought  to 
stand  as  a  solemn  warning  against  the  indulgence 
of  this  ultra,  self-righteous,  and  fanatical  spirit — 
this  seeking  out  of  human  inventions  in  matters  of 
such  high  concernment  as  those  of  the  salvation  of 
men.  How  much  wiser,  safer,  and  better,  than  the 
running  after  every  new  thing,  and  the  following 
of  so  many  blind  guides,  would  it  be  for  Christian 
professors  to  obey  the  injunction  of  God  himself: 
"  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  icays,  and 

see,  AND  ASK  FOR  THE  OLD  PATHS,  loheve  is  the  GOOD 

WAY,  and  WALK  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  fur 
your  souls.''^ 

The  contents  of  this  little  volume  also  teach 
another  lesson  which  should  not  be  suffered  to  pass 
unheeded.  It  is  not  the  low,  the  ignorant,  and  the 
vulgar  who  have  been  the  subjects  of  the  delu- 
sions we  have  been  unfolding  ;  but,  at  every  stage 
of  them,  and  in  all  their  variety  of  aspects,  those 
subjects  have  been  found  among  highly  respectable 
and  intelligent   citizens — ladies,  educated,  accom- 


324  MATTHIAS. 

plished,  virtuous — and  gentlemen  of  character— 
acute  in  business — men  of  wealth,  of  information, 
and  of  great  public  and  private  worth.  How  im- 
portant, then,  in  view  of  our  dependence,  and  the 
frailty  of  our  nature,  the  caution,  "  Let  him  that 
thinketh  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall."  And 
again,  in  the  language  of  God  to  Jeremiah,  "  Let 
not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  neither  let 
the  mighty  man  glory  in  his  might ;  let  not  the  rich 
man  glory  in  his  riches,  but  let  him  that  glorieth, 
glory  in  this,  that  he  understandeth  and  knoweth 
Me."  The  rule  of  action  in  all  doubtful  matters, 
both  in  religion  and  morals,  is  very  clear  and  sim- 
ple :  "  Fear  God,  and  keep  his  commandments ; 
for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man.  For  God  shall 
bring  every  work  into  judgment,  with  every  secret 
thing,  whether  it  be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil." 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  remarked  that  Error 
can  only  be  overcome  by  Truth,  and  that  they 
who  have  the  "  truth  of  god"  distinctly  set  forth 
in  the  book  of  Revelation,  have  an  infallible  crite- 
rion by  which  to  test  the  true  character  of  any  re- 
ligious opinion  or  practice.  And  in  the  gospel  dis- 
pensation introduced  by  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  the  inspired  volumes  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  constitute  the  true  and  only  infallible 
rule  of  faith  and  conduct ;  nor  can  any  radical  or 
fundamental  error  long  escape  detection  when  sub- 
jected to  this  plain  and  unerring  standard. 


APPENDIX. 


[After  the  present  volume  was  more  than  half  completed, 
and  after  that  portion  of  it  containing  the  principal  extracts 
from  Mr.  Pierson's  papers  had  been  stereotyped,  the  writer 
obtained  for  examination  some  hundred  or  more  pages  of 
his  manuscripts  and  journals,  of  the  existence  of  which  he 
was  not  before  apprized.  Had  he  received  these  papers  at 
an  earlier  day,  some  farther  use  would  have  been  made  of 
them  in  their  chronological  order.  Even  as  it  is,  a  few 
additional  extracts  have  been  made,  and  are  here  added  by- 
way of  appendix,  as  tending  to  the  farther  elucidation  of  the 
character  of  Mr.  Pierson,  and  as  matters  of  curiosity.] 

A. 

The  following  document  is  a  copy  of  the  prayer  and  cove- 
nant of  Mr.  Pierson,  made,  probably,  on  connecting  himself 
with  the  church,  Jan.  2,  1820.  It  was  written  out,  and 
signed  and  sealed — a  practice  recommended  by  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge and  other  eminent  experimental  Christian  writers. 
Nothing  can  breathe  a  more  fervent  and  delightful  spirit  of 
piety  than  this  instrument,  and  the  renewal  of  it  six  months 
afterward.  How  strange,  that  a  sun  which  rose  so  brightly, 
should  have  gone  down  in  deepest  gloom  ! 

O  thou  great  and  greatly  exalted  and  incomprehensible 
Jehovah,  who  alone  art  God,  and  who  alone  art  worthy  of 
the  praises  and  adorations  of  all  thy  creatures — thou  who 
searchest  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men,  search  my  heart, 
O  my  God,  and  make  it  sincere  in  the  high  privilege  in  which 
it  is  now  to  be  engaged. 

O  my  God,  I,  the  creature  of  thy  power,  desire  with  great 
humility  and  abasement  of  soul  to  deplore  my  past  rebellion 


326  APPENDIX. 

against  thee,  and  against  thy  holy  and  righteous  laws,  and 
desire  to  lay  down  the  weapons  of  my  rebellion  against  thee 
as  my  lawful  Sovereign,  Creator,  and  Preserver.  Great  and 
exalted  God,  who  art  the  Lord  of  lords  and  King  of  kings, 
though  thou  art  exalted  above  all  comprehension,  yet  thou 
condescendest  to  become  the  Saviour  of  sinners  through 
Jesus  Christ  thy  dearly  beloved  Son. 

In  the  name  of  this  precious  Saviour  do  I,  who  am  a  lost, 
perishing  sinner,  desire  to  come  to  thee  and  take  hold  of  thy 
strength,  that  I  may  make  peace  with  thee,  O  Lord,  and  be 
enabled  to  be  at  peace  with  thee.  With  a  heart  filled  with 
gratitude  at  thy  condescension  to  the  children  of  men,  I  desire, 
by  this  solemn  and  deliberate  act,  to  accept  of  this  precious 
Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  as  he  is  offered  in  the  Gospel ;  to 
renew  the  vows  made  for  me  in  baptism  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit;  and  those  vows  which  by  thy 
grace  thou  hast  enabled  me  to  make  in  a  public  manner  m 
thy  sanctuary,  and  this  day  again  renewedly  to  dedicate  my- 
self to  thee,  O  my  God,  to  be  thine  in  an  everlasting  cove- 
nant, choosing  and  cleaving  to  thee  as  the  desire  of  my  heart, 
and  only  portion  for  time  and  for  eternity,  renouncing  the 
world  and  its  vanities,  consecrating  myself  and  all  that  I  am 
and  have  to  thy  service  and  glory. 

Be  pleased,  blessed  God,  to  accept  the  offering  here  made 
thee  (with  an  humble  dependance  on  thy  helping  grace,  which 
alone  will  enable  me  to  perform  my  vows).  Grant  me,  0  my 
Father,  the  fulness  of  thy  love  and  grace  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Let  me  be  washed  in  the  precious  blood  of  the  dear  Redeem- 
er; let  me  be  clothed  in  his  righteousness;  let  me  be  sanc- 
tified by  his  spirit,  and  transformed  more  and  more  into  his 
image.  Number  me  among  thy  peculiar  people ;  inscribe  my 
name  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life  ;  grant  me  the  blessed  Com- 
forter to  comfort  me,  to  teach  me,  and  to  lead  me  in  the  way 
of  all  truth.  Put  thy  fear  in  my  heart,  that  it  may  never  de- 
part from  thee  ;  write  thy  law  upon  my  heart  that  it  may  be 
a  light  to  my  feet  and  lamp  to  my  path  ;  grant  me  a  double 
portion  of  meekness,  lowliness,  and  humility.  Enable  me  to 
walk  humbly  with  thee,  my  God  ;  grant  me  perfect  resignation 
to  thy  holy  will ;  enable  me  to  spend  the  remainder  of  my 
days  in  thy  service,  and  in  the  light  and  under  the  smiles  of 
thy  countenance.  O  my  God  and  Father,  when  thou  seest 
me  going  astray  from  thy  holy  commandments,  let  this  cove- 


APPENDIX,  327 

nant  pass  in  remembrance  before  thee,  0  my  beloved  Father, 
and  wilt  thou  in  tender  mercy  lead  me  quickly  back  to  the 
true  and  living  way  !  Grant  me  grace  to  keep  this  covenant : 
and  when  it  shall  please  thee  to  call  me  hence,  wilt  thou 
look  down  on  me,  thy  languishing,  dying  child,  and  in  cove- 
nant love  strengthen  and  support  me  in  that  trying  moment, 
and  enable  me  with  my  latest  breath  to  glorify  thee,  the 
faithful  and  everlasting  God,  and  then  receive  my  spirit,  that 
It  may  dwell  with  Jesus  its  Redeemer,  and  behold  his  glory. 
And  now,  holy  and  blessed  Father,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  the 
Son  of  thy  love,  blot  out  all  my  manifold  transgressions,  and 
forgive  me  freely  for  his  sake  who  died  for  sinners. 

What  thou  seest  amiss  in  this  solemn  transaction,  forgive  ; 
what  thou  seest  I  need  that  I  have  not  asked,  grant. 

Accept  me  now,  0  my  beloved  Father.  My  heart's  desire 
is  to  be  thine  for  ever.  0  that  this  desire  might  be  sincere, 
and  come  up  acceptably  before  thee.  To  thee,  the  only  true 
God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  be  rendered  everlasting 
praises.     Amen.  ELIJAH  PIERSOxN.  £L.  S.] 

New-York,  Sunday,  January  2,  1820. 

Most  holy  and  blessed  God,  my  heavenly  Father,  I  desire 
to  confirm  this  covenant,  and  renewedly  to  dedicate  myself  to 
thee,  my  God  and  Creator,  to  deplore  and  lament  my  past 
unworthiness  and  unprofitableness,  and  in  view  of  them  to  be 
deeply  humbled  before  thee,  my  God,  and  cast  myself  upon 
thy  free  and  sovereign  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ ;  and  with  an 
humble  dependance  upon  thy  helping  grace,  desire  to  renounce 
the  world  and  its  vanities,  to  choose  thee,  my  heavenly 
Father,  as  my  portion  for  time  and  for  eternity. 

O  Lord  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  accept  me ;  draw  my  affec- 
tions from  all  created  good,  that  they  may  centre  in  thee  alone  ; 
give  me  holiness  of  heart ;  give  me  greater  conformity  to  thee  ; 
fire  my  soul  with  holy  love  to  thee  ;  sanctify  me  by  thy  holy 
spirit ;  grant  me  sweet  communion  with  thee,  my  Father,  and 
give  me  the  spirit  of  thy  children. 

Greatly  strengthen  thou  me  for  all  the  duties  and  trials  of 
life  ;  as  my  day  is,  so  let  my  strength  be.  Fit  me  to  live, 
and  prepare  me  for  death  ;  and  when  I  shall  have  finished  my 
course,  may  my  spirit  for  ever  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Christ  its 
Redeemer.     Amen.  ELIJAH  PIERSON. 

New-  York,  July  4,  1820, 


328  APPENDIX. 

B. 

FORMATION    OF  MR.    PIERSON'S    CHURCH    AT 
BOWERY  HILL. 

[The  following  is  Mr.  Pierson's  account  of  tVie  manner  in 
which  he  and  his  associates  constituted  the  Bowery  Hill 
Church,  under  his  own  ministration,  describing  the  forms 
and  ceremonies  observed.] 

Sunday,  Feb.  28,  1830.  It  was  a  very  rainy  day,  and 
none  of  us  contemplated  going  out.  Mrs.  P.  was  ill  in  her 
bed,  but  well  enough  heartily  to  unite  in  this  transaction. 

We  assembled  in  the  baci<  room  down  stairs,  E.  P.,  S.  P., 
Catharine  P.,  and  T.  G.  Freeman. 

After  reading  the  1st  of  Acts,  and  prayer,  we  were  moved 
by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  form  ourselves  into  a  Church,  after  the 
following  manner  ; — 

In  the  first  place,  I  (E.  P.)  was  set  apart  by  prayer  and 
laying  on  of  hands  for  the  work. 

Next,  Sarah  was  set  apart  in  the  same  manner  for  the  same 
purpose.  After,  Timothy  and  Caty,  in  the  same  way,  to  join 
and  receive  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  when  they  were  reg- 
ularly dismissed  from  their  present  connexions. 

I  then  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  Sarah,  and 
greeted  her  with  a  holy  kiss,  and  welcomed  her  to  all  the 
privileges  and  blessings  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

During  the  exercises,  we  all  enjoyed,  in  a  remarkable  man- 
ner, the  presence  of  Jesus. 

Sarah  and  myself  had  special  witness  from  the  Lord  that 
we  had  done  according  to  the  mind  of  the  Lord,  and  that  he 
was  well  pleased  with  our  faith  and  obedience  in  doing  it. 

When  we  had  done,  the  Lord  bade  me  write  it  in  a  book. 
I  then  wrote  the  covenant,  which  was  signed  by  me  and  her. 

We  used  frequently  to  unite  together  in  prayer  concerning 
the  Church,  and  it  appeared  as  if  the  Lord  was  well  pleased 
with  us  in  the  matter,  and  always  gave  us  precious  encourage- 
ment about  its  prosperity.  Once  he  presented  a  Bible,  all 
gold,  opened  to  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  to  the  view  of  Sarah's 
xnind.  To  me  Jesus  appeared  to  come  in  kingly  attire,  with 
a  crown. 

I  was  exceedingly  desirous  of  being  instructed  in  his  word, 
that  we  might  in  every  thing  follow  him.  I  heard  a  word 
saying,  When  he  came  he  would  teach  us  all  things. 


APPENDIX.  829 

c. 

[It  will  be  recollected,  that  Matthews  pretended  to  be  a 
Jew;  and  Mr.  Pierson,  after  he  was  transformed  first  into 
Elijah  the  Tishbite,  and  afterward  into  John  the  Baptist,  ima- 
gined himself  to  have  become  a  Jew  also.  Matthias  preach- 
ed, and  Pierson  then  believed,  that  the  Jews  were  guiltless 
of  the  crucifixion  of  the  Saviour.  The  following  is  Mr.  Pier- 
son's  argument  upon  the  question,  found  by  the  writer  among 
his  papers.] 

Who  are  legally  accountable  for  the  death  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  ? 

It  is  written,  Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  and  the  Son 
of  man  shall  be  delivered  unto  the  chief  priests  ^nd  unto  the 
scribes,  and  tliey  shall  condemn  him  to  death,  and  shall  de- 
liver him  to  the  Gentiles,  and  they  shall  mock  him,  and  shall 
scourge  him,  and  shall  spit  upon  him,  and  shall  kill  him. 
Mark  x.,  33,  34. 

Matt.  XX.,  19.  And  shall  deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles  to 
mock,  and  to  scourge,  and  to  crucify. 

Luke  xviii.,  32,  33.  For  he  shall  be  delivered  unto  the 
Gentiles,  and  shall  be  mocked,  and  spitefully  entreated,  and 
spitted  on,  and  they  shall  scourge  him  and  put  him  to  death. 
Jesus  delivered  to  the  Gentiles. 

Matt,  xxvii.,  2.  And  when  they  had  bound  him,  they  led 
him  away,  and  delivered  him  to  Pontius  Pilate  the  governor. 

John  xix.,  10.  Then  saith  Pilate  unto  Jesus,  Speakest 
thou  not  unto  me  1  Knowest  thou  not  that  I  have  power  to 
crucify  thee,  and  have  power  to  release  thee  1 

Luice  xxiii.,  24.  And  Pilate  gave  sentence  that  it  should 
be  as  they  required. 

Matt,  xxvii.,  26.  Then  released  he  Barabbas  unto  them. 
And  when  he  had  scourged  Jesus,  he  delivered  him  to  be 
crucified.  Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus  into 
the  common  hall,  and  gathered  unto  them  the  whole  band. 
And  they  stripped  him  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe  ;  and 
when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  they  put  it  upon  his 
head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand,  and  they  bowed  the  knee 
Defore  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying.  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews, 
Ee  2 


330  APPENDIX. 

And  they  spit  upon  him,  and  took  the  reed,  and  smote  him  on 
the  head.  And  after  they  had  mocked  him,  they  took  the 
robe  from  off  him,  and  put  his  own  raiment  on  him,  and  led 
him  away  to  crucify. 

Luke  xxiii.,  33.  And  when  they  were  come  lo  the  place 
which  is  called  Calvary,  there  they  crucified  him  and  the 
malefactors. 

John  XIX.,  34,  38.  But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a  spear 
pierced  his  side. 

And  after  this  Joseph  of  Arimathea  besought  Pilate  that 
he  might  take  away  the  body  of  Jesus.  And  Pilate  gave 
him  leave. 

Comme7its. 

From  the  above  portions  of  Scripture  we  learn,  that  Jesus 
was  betrayed  unto  the  chief  priests  and  scribes,  and  by 
them  delivered  to  the  Roman  governor  in  Judea,  Pontius 
Pilate,  who  gave  sentence  against  him,  and  delivered  him  to 
his  own  soldiers,  who  put  on  him  the  scarlet  robe,  the  crown 
of  thorns,  mocked  him,  spit  on  him,  and  crucified  him,  and 
pierced  him  in  his  side,  when  dead  delivering  his  body  to  Jo- 
seph for  interment. 

This  narrative  in  the  Scriptures  is  so  clear  and  conclusive, 
that  no  shade  of  doubt  can  arise  against  the  conclusion  that 
the  Roman  governor  is  legally  accountable  for  the  death 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  And  that  when  the  Avenger  of  his 
blood  shall  come,  it  will  be  required  of  the  Gentiles. 

Again  :  long  before  the  death  of  Jesus  took  place,  the  na- 
tionality of  the  Jews  had  ceased,  and  they  were  governed  by 
governors  put  over  them  by  the  Roman  emperors,  Pontius 
Pilate  being  the  Roman  governor  at  that  time. 

The  lawful  rulers  of  a  country  are  held  accountable  for  the 
transactions  done  under  their  control ;  they  only  have  a  right 
to  use  force  to  prevent  crime  and  lo  execute  the  laws. 

Thus  Paul  was  rescued  by  the  Roman  governor  from  the 
people,  who  were  desirous  of  killing  him.  Acts  xxi.,  31, 
32,  33. 

The  custom  of  the  Roman  government  was  to  leave  their 
conquered  provinces  the  free  exercise  of  their  religious  opin- 
ions and  ceremonies,  and  this  the  Jews  continued  to  do,  with 
little  interruption,  till  Jerusalem  and  the  Temple  were  de- 
stroyed. 

The  chief  priests  and  scribes  say,  John  xviii.,  31 1  in  an- 


APPENDIX.  331 

swer  to  Pilate's  request  that  they  should  take  Jesus,  and  judge 
him  according  to  their  laws,  "  It  is  not  lawful  for  us  to  put 
any  man  to  death." 

Yet  they  say,  John  xix.,  7,  "  The  Jews  answered  him,  we 
have  a  law,  and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die." 

These  show  us,  that  the  right  to  put  persons  to  death  had 
been  taken  from  them  by  the  Romans.  Matt,  xxvii.,  25. 
"  Then  answered  all  the  people  and  said,  his  blood  be  upon 
us  and  on  our  children."  When  God  makes  inquisition  for 
blood,  he  will  seek  for  it  where  it  is,  in  the  hands  of  the 
guilty,  and  that  upon  legal  principles,  however  men  may  de- 
termine to  the  contrary. 

The  position,  that  Gentiles  are  guilty  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  enables  us  to  determine  the  application  of  the 
parable  of  the  vineyard  and  husbandmen,  Matt,  xxi.,  32, 
41,  Mark  xii.,  1-9,  Luke  xx.,  9,  16.  It  is  said,  "  When  the 
lord  of  the  vineyard  cometh,  what  will  he  do  unto  these  hus- 
bandmen 1  He  will  miserably  destroy  those  wicked  men,  and 
will  let  out  the  vineyard  unto  other  husbandmen,  which  shall 
render  him  the  fruits  in  their  seasons."     Matt,  xxi.,  40,  41. 

This  parable  had  a  partial  application  to  those  who  heard 
it  from  the  mouth  of  Jesus. 

But  its  grand  application  is  to  those  who  killed  the  Son, 
and  the  killing  of  the  Son  is  the  moving  cause  of  the  deter- 
mination of  the  Lord  to  destroy  them,  and  give  the  vineyard 
to  others  who  will  make  a  good  use  of  it. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  ark  is  to  be  taken  from  the  Gen- 
tiles, and  to  be  restored  to  the  Jews.  Obadiah  says,  15,  16, 
17,  "  For  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near  upon  all  the  heathen, 
as  thou  hast  done  it  shall  be  done  to  thee  ;  thy  reward  shall 
return  upon  thine  own  head. 

"  For  as  ye  have  drunk  upon  my  holy  mountain,  shall  all  the 
heathen  drink  continually  ;  yea,  they  shall  drink,  and  they 
shall  swallow  down,  and  they  shall  be  as  though  they  had 
not  been.  But  upon  Mount  Zion  shall  be  deliverance,  and 
there  shall  be  hohness." 

Paul,  in  Rom.  xi.,  20,  says,  "  The  branches  were  broken  off, 
that  the  Gentiles  might  be  grafted  in.  Well ;  because  of  un- 
belief they  were  broken  oti',  and  thou  standest  by  faith.  Be  not 
high-minded.  For  if  God  spared  not  the  natural  branches, 
lest  he  spare  not  thee. 

"  Behold,  therefore,  the  goodness  and  severity  of  God :  on 


33$ 


APPENDIX. 


them  which  fell,  severity  ;  but  towards  thee,  goodness,  if  thou 
continue  in  goodness,  otherwise  thou  also  shalt  be  cut  off." 

What  application  can  be  made  of  Paul's  doctrine  1  Have 
the  Gentiles  stood  in  the  faith  1  Is  the  institution  called  the 
Church  now  in  the  world  like  that  established  by  the  Saviour 
and  his  apostles  1  Do  its  present  condition  and  character 
agree  with  the  pattern  left  for  their  guidance  and  direction'? 

Are  the  people  called  Christians  all  of  one  heart  and  one 
soul  1  Have  they  all  things  common  like  those  of  old  1  Are 
their  teachers  filled  with  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost'l  Do  they 
heal  the  sick,  raise  the  dead,  and  cast  out" devils'? 

If  these  things  have  not  been,  and  continued  to  be  done, 
then  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  and  his  apostles  is  not  with  them  ; 
they  are  bastards,  and  not  true-born  sons.  Then  the  Gentiles 
have  not  stood  in  the  faith,  and  God  will  not  spare  them,  but 
will  cut  them  off,  and  give  the  vineyard  to  others,  bringing 
forth  the  fruits  thereof.     The  inquiry  may  be  made. 


D. 
AGAINST  SHAVING  OFF  THE  BEARD. 
[The  reason  of  wearing  his  beard  long  has  been  briefly 
noticed  in  this  volume,  in  the  manner  stated  by  Mr.  Pierson 
to  a  friend  in  conversation.  Among  his  papers,  the  writer 
has  discovered  the  following  argument  upon  the  subject, 
which  is  certainly  entitled  to  the  praise  of  ingenuity.] 

Why  should  a  man  wear  his  beard'? 

Ans.   Because  God  made  him  with  it. 

When  God  made  man  it  is  said,  "  So  God  created  man  in 
his  image."     Gen.  i.,  26,  27. 

When  Adam  came  perfect  from  the  hands  of  his  Maker,  he 
had  a  full-grown  beard.  Does  any  one  suppose  he  shaved  it 
off  while  in  paradise  1 

When  God  sent  his  Son  Jesus  into  the  world,  he  was  seen 
with  a  beard  according  to  his  age. 

Jesus  said,  Johnxiv.,  9,  "  He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen 
the  Father." 

In  Adam  and  Jesus  we  have  the  two  witnesses  of  God, 
declaring  and  confirming  to  men  in  all  ages  and  to  all  the 


APPENDIX. 


333 


world,  what  his  mind  is  on  this  subject, — for  in  the  mouth 
of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  shall  be  established. 
Besides,  these  witnesses  have  never  been  corrupted  by  tra- 
ditions of  men.  Their  testimony  is  of  the  purest  character. 
If  Adam  was  to  reappear  in  the  world,  would  he  not  be 
surprised  to  see  beardless  men,  and  inquire  whether  they 
were  ashamed  of  him,  their  father,  on  account  of  his  beard, 
or  say.  You  think  you  have  become  wiser  than  God  was 
when  he  made  me  in  his  image  1 

When  God  gave  his  people  a  code  of  laws  for  their  gov- 
ernment by  Moses,  shaving  was  expressly  forbidden.  Levit. 
xix.,  27.  "  Ye  shall  not  round  the  corners  of  your  heads, 
neither  shalt  thou  mar  the  corners  of  thy  beard."  Levit. 
xxi.  5.  "  Neither  shall  they  shave  off  the  corners  of  their 
beard." 

God's  chosen  people  wore  the  beard ;  it  was  considered  a 
reproach  to  be  without  it. — See  2  Sam.,  x.,  4.  "  Where- 
fore Hanun  took  David's  servants,  and  shaved  off  the  one 
half  of  their  beards,  and  sent  them  away.  When  they  told 
unto  David,  he  sent  to  meet  them,  because  the  men  were 
greatly  ashamed  :  and  the  king  said.  Tarry  at  Jericho  (a 
frontier  city)  until  your  beards  be  grown,  and  return." 

God  made  our  bodies  for  himself  to  dwell  and  walk  in. 
2  Cor.  vi.,  14-18.  "  I  will  dwell  in  them  and  walk  in  them  : 
and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people." 

When  God  made  our  bodies,  was  there  a  deficiency  of 
wisdom'?  Who  is  authorized  to  alter  or  disfigure  God's 
dwelling  1   Rom.  ix.,  20.*  "  Shall  the  thing  formed  say,"  &c. 

What  does  shaving  preach  1 

Ans.  That  God  has  given  us  something  not  only  useless, 
but  burdensome,  and  that  we  must  almost  daily  be  at  the 
trouble  of  ridding  ourselves  of  it.  Thus  we  daily  reproach 
our  Maker,  and  his  Son  Jesus.     Rom.  ix.,  20. 

It  is  said  that  it  is  singular.  This  forms  no  objection  why 
it  should  not  be  practised. 

Because  it  is  singular  for  men  to  be  holy  in  this  age,  will 
any  one  say  we  ought  not  to  be  holy  ?  Men  often  pray  to  be 
like  Jesus.  Now,  if  their  prayers  were  never  answered, 
would  they  have  beards  1 

*  Nay,  but  O  man,  who  art  thou  that  repliest  against  God? 
Shall  the  thing  formed  say  to  him  that  formed,  why  hast  thou 
made  me  thus  ? — Note  by  Mr.  Fol/^er. 


334  APPENDIX. 

Who  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  Son  of  God  ? 

Ans.  A  Jew.  If  the  Son  be  a  Jew,  what  is  the  Father  T 
Jesus  said,  John  iv.,  22,  "  Salvation  is  of  the  Jews.  Ye 
worship  ye  know  not  what :  we  know  what  we  worship." 
Again  he  says,  John  xiv.  9,  "  He  tiiat  hath  seen  me  hath 
seen  the  Father." 

When  God  appears,  his  sons  are  to  be  hke  him.   1  John  iii.,  3. 

The  beard  is  the  grand  visible  distinction  between  the 
male  and  female.  It  denotes  age,  wisdom,  strength,  and 
gives  dignity  to  the  being  God  has  made  lord  of  his  creation. 

Henceforth,  men  who  become  holy  will  wear  their  beards 
by  the  appointment  of  God. 

Children  have  no  beards  :  so  those  who  are  children  in  the 
kingdom  of  God  will  have  no  beards,  till  they  be  grown  to  the 
age  and  stature  of  young  men. 


THE  SABBATH  OF  YEARS. 
[The  following  meditation  contains  Mr.  Pierson's  notions 
respecting  the  Seventh  Millennium,  or  the  great  Sabbath  of 
years.] 

June  28,  1832.  Meditation.  God  made  all  his  works  in 
five  days,  and  the  sixth  day  made  man,  and  gave  them  com- 
mandment what  to  do,  and  rested  on  the  seventh  day. 

This  is  a  type  of  what  God  is  about  to  do  now  ;  viz  : 

The  new  creation  is  to  be  completed  and  made  perfect  be- 
fore the  Sabbath  of  years  begins,  that  is,  before  the  six  thou- 
sand years  are  ended,  that  God  may  rest  from  all  his  works 
on  the  seventh  thousand  years. 

The  new  creation  is  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth  for 
men  to  dwell  in,  and  new  men  after  God's  image,  holy,  and 
that  entire  renovation  of  the  animal  and  vegetable  world 
which  is  needful.  The  entire  destruction  and  banishment  of 
the  wicked  from  the  earth  before  the  six  thousand  years  are 
ended. 

God  will  then  have  nothing  to  do  but  rest  on  the  seventh 
thousand  years,  and  bless  them,  and  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his 
labour. 

The  world  to  be  a  Garden  of  Eden. 


APPENDIX.  335 

[The  consecration  of  his  house  in  Fourth-street,  as  a 
place  of  worship,  after  his  removal  from  the  Bowery  Hill,  has 
been  mentioned  in  the  text.  The  following  entry  occurs  in 
his  diary  upon  the  subject.] 

Friday  evening,  6  o'clock,  April  19,  1832.  Finished  fixing 
the  carpets,  cleaning  the  house,  &c. 

While  meditating  on  the  goodness  of  God  for  his  help  and 
aid  in  all  our  moving,  the  Spirit  said,  Sanctify  your  house  unto 
the  Lord. 

I  was  directed  to  go  into  every  room,  from  the  cellar  to  the 
garret,  praying  that  God  would  take  up  his  abode  with  me 
in  the  house.  Keep  all  evil  from  us,  let  no  destroyer  come 
nigh  us,  keep  us  from  fire  and  all  hurtful  elements,  give  me 
power  to  speak  his  words.  Grant  hearing  ears  to  the 
people,  &.C.  &c. 

[The  particular  occasion  of  the  following  entry  is  not 
known.] 

June  3d  and  ith,  1833.  Go  not  anywhere  abroad.  Hide 
thyself  three  months  till  the  indignation  be  overpast.  I 
will  bring  evil  upon  this  place,  such  as  has  never  been,  be- 
cause they  have  rejected  my  words,  and  thee  my  servant. 

Wo,  wo,  wo  unto  this  place. 

F. 
DOCTOR  CONDICT-S  STATEMENT. 

[The  elder  Doctor  Condict,  a  physician  of  standing,  and 
a  gentleman  of  high  respectability,  conceiving  that  his  tes- 
timony on  the  trial  had  not  been  correcily  reported,  has  trans- 
mitted to  the  writer  the  following  statement  respecting  the 
post  mortem  examination  of  Mr.  Pierson's  body,  in  full.  It 
is  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  for  insertion  entire.] 

On  the  18th  August,  1834,  the  body  of  Elijah  Pierson 
was  disinterred  for  examination.  The  surface  of  it  was  of  a 
dark  chocolate  colour,  and  the  face  nearly  black.  The  abdo- 
men was  laid  open,  a  ligature  passed  round  the  oesophagus 
above  the  stomach,  and  another  round  the  intestine  below  the 
stomach,  and  the  stomach  then  taken  out  of  the  body.     It 


336  APPENDIX. 

seemed  evidently  less  changed  than  any  of  the  surrounding 
parts.  Its  texture  was  firm  and  unimpaired.  It  could  be 
handled  freely  and  roughly,  without  rupturing  or  injuring  its 
coats.  When  first  viewed,  it  was  collapsed  and  contracted 
into  a  small  mass,  and  apparently  empty.  Externally,  its 
colour  was  scarcely  changed,  except  on  its  anterior  portion 
and  near  its  lower  orifice,  where  it  showed  a  redness,  and  its 
vascularity  was  increased.  Putrefaction  had  not  apparently 
begun  in  any  part  of  the  stomach.  The  body  was  extremely 
offensive,  and  traces  of  inflammation  of  the  stomach  being 
evident  upon  its  outer  surface,  it  was  taken  home  for  further 
inspection,  and  the  body  was  again  buried. 

Upon  opening  the  stomach,  there  was  found  near  the 
lower  orifice,  called  the  pylorus,  a  teaspoonful  or  more  of 
mucus,  of  a  dark  brown  colour,  about  the  consistence  of 
paste  or  starch.  A  little  farther  from  the  lower  orifice  or 
pylorus,  and  upon  the  forepart  of  the  stomach,  was  found  a 
substance  resembling  wet  chalk  or  calomel,  of  a  dingy 
whitish  colour,  in  quantity  equal  to  about  8  or  10  grains  of 
calomel.  The  upper  portion  of  the  inner  membrane,  and 
about  one  half  of  its  entire  surface,  was  nearly  natural  in  ap- 
pearance, except  being  more  vascular.  A  spot  or  patch,  of 
a  bright  red  colour,  somewhat  circular,  and  about  three  inches 
in  diameter,  was  found,  extending  from  about  an  inch  dis- 
tant from  the  pylorus,  along  the  forepart  of  the  stomach,  and 
corresponding  with  the  red  spot  upon  the  outside  which  was 
first  described.  It  was  here  that  the  whitish  substance  re- 
sembling wet  chalk  was  found.  Half  an  inch  higher  was 
another  spot,  of  the  same  red  colour,  and  about  one  third  the 
size  of  the  former.  By  the  sides  of  these  red  spots  or 
patches  were  three  or  four  other  patches,  about  the  size  of 
a  twenty-five  cent  piece,  of  a  dark  brown  colour,  almost 
black  ;  and  under  these  dark  spots,  the  inner  membrane,  or 
inner  lining  of  the  stomach,  sometimes  called  its  mucous 
coat,  was  very  soft,  pulpy,  and  disorganized.  This  inner,  (ft 
mucous  membrane,  at  these  dark  spots,  was  somewhat 
elevated — was  readily  scraped  off  by  the  finger  nail  or  back 
of  the  knife,  feeling  very  pulpy  when  rubbed  between  the 
fingers.  Beneath  this  coat  or  membrane  there  was  an 
effusion  or  extravasation  of  dark  blood,  having  somewhat 
the  appearance  of  being  charred.  This  extravasated  blood, 
lying  between  the  two  coats  called  the  mucous  and  themue- 


APPENDIX.  337' 

cular  coat,  had  elevated  the  former  by  separating  these  two 
coats,  and  gave  the  dark  colour  to  these  spots  ;  and  when  re- 
moved, the  muscular  coat,  upon  which  the  dark  blood  was 
spread,  showed  a  bright  red  colour,  extending  a  considerable 
distance  around  the  dark  spots,  with  increased  thickness  of 
substance,  and  enlargement  of  bloodvessels.  The  whole  in- 
ternal surface  of  the  stomach  seemed  devoid  of  putrefaction. 
Nothing  was  found  in  the  stomach  except  the  little  mucus 
first  mentioned,  and  the  chalk-like  powder. 

The  stomach  and  its  little  contents  were  carefully  placed 
in  a  jar,  and  sent  to  Dr.  Torrey,  Professor  of  Chymistry  in 
New- York,  for  the  purpose  of  analyzing  them,  and  it  is  un- 
derstood and  believed  that  no  poisonous  substance  was  de- 
tected. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1835,  the  body  of  Mr.  Pierson  was 
again  disinterred,  with  a  view  to  an  examination  of  the  in- 
testines and  CESophagus,  which  conducts  food  from  the  mouth 
into  the  stomach.  The  body  externally  had  advanced  con- 
siderably in  tlie  putrefactive  stage.  The  flesh  about  the 
limbs  was  giving  way  and  falling  olT.  What  remained  of 
the  lungs  was  about  the  size  of  a  fist,  and  black.  The  liver 
and  spleen  had  entirely  disappeared.  The  oesophagus  or 
gullet  was  drawn  down,  and  cut  off  high  up  in  the  throat, 
and  with  a  considerable  portion  of  the  intestines,  was  carried 
home  for  examination.  The  gullet,  at  its  end  near  the 
stomach,  where  it  had  been  divided  in  August,  was  found  to 
be  reddened,  and  somewhat  thickened,  for  about  an  inch  and 
a  half.  It  was  slit  open  its  whole  length,  and  the  remainder 
appeared  natural,  the  redness  below  gradually  diminishing 
till  it  disappeared.  The  whole  was  firm  and  unyielding, 
having  very  little  if  any  appearance  of  dissolution  or  of  ten- 
derness. Different  portions  were  cut  off  from  the  intestinal 
tube  at  different  places,  the  feculent  matters  scraped  off, 
rinsed  in  water,  and  spread  open.  No  marks  of  redness  ap- 
peared about  them,  nor  any  appearance  of  decay.  They 
were  very  firm  and  unyielding.  They  could  not  be  torn  by 
the  fingers,  and  possessed  more  tenacity  than  the  gullet.  It 
was  remarked,  on  cutting  through  the  muscles  or  fleshy  cover- 
ing of  the  lower  belly,  immediately  over  the  intestines,  that 
the  flesh  here  was  firm,  and  not  decayed  or  decomposed  more 
than  it  is  usually  found  to  be  in  the  dead  subject  a  few  days 
after  death.  There  was  very  little  if  any  offensive  smell  at 
Hh 


338  APPENDIX. 

the  grave,  and  on  inspecting  the  intestines  after  being  taken 
home,  the  only  odour  that  was  perceived  was  precisely  like 
that  which  is  noticed  on  opening  a  box  of  old  smoked  herring. 
This  was  very  perceptible,  and  was  first  noticed  by  Dr. 
Canfield,  whose  position  with  respect  to  the  wind  was  such 
as  to  enable  him  first  to  remark  it. 

The  examinations  made  in  August  and  in  March  were  in 
presence  of  the  same  gentlemen,  viz.,  Drs.  Johns,  Canfield, 
and  the  two  Condicts. 

After  the  first  examination,  they  unanimously  concurred  in 
the  opinion,  that  the  appearances  of  the  stomach  were  such 
as  to  induce  a  strong  apprehension  that  Mr.  Pierson's  death 
had  been  occasioned  by  violent  means,  and  not  by  the  prog- 
ress of  any  known  disease,  terminating  fatally.  That  there 
was  great  reason  to  apprehend  that  his  death  had  been  pro- 
duced by  some  poisonous  substance  taken  into  the  stomach. 
An  opinion  to  this  effect  was  committed  to  writing,  was  signed 
by  each  of  the  physicians  just  named,  and  iheir  affidavits 
taken  to  attest  their  belief  of  its  truth.  They  were  all  sub- 
poenaed to  attend  the  trial  of  Matthews  alias  Matthias,  as 
witnesses,  in  April,  and  they  all  attended  excepting  Dr. 
Canfield.  Two  of  them  only  were  examined,  and  their  ex- 
aminations were  limited  almost  exclusively  to  the  appear- 
ances of  the  stomach.  Dr.  Johns  was  not  sworn  or  ques- 
tioned. The  trial  was  arrested  on  the  second  day,  and  no 
opportunity  given  to  the  medical  witnesses  to  show  the 
authorities,  or  cite  the  cases,  or  explain  the  reasons,  upon 
which  their  united  opinion  was  formed. 

They  well  knew  that  professional  men  held  various  opiii- 
ions  on  some  of  the  points  m  question.  They  knew  that 
other  physicians,  entertaining  different  opinions  on  some  of 
these  points,  would  probably  be  called  to  express  their  opin- 
ions without  having  seen  the  stomach.  They  were  stran- 
gers in  a  strange  land,  unknown  to  the  jury,  to  the  bar,  and 
to  the  court,  with  but  one  exception.  Their  opinion  in  re- 
spect to  the  death  of  Mr.  Pierson  was  known  as  well  to  the 
whole  neighbouring  country  as  it  was  to  the  court  and  the 
jury.  But  their  reasons  for  this  opinion,  and  the  authorities 
in  support  of  it,  they  had  no  opportunity  to  offer.  The  cause 
was  arrested  from  some  defect  of  evidence  relating  to  the 
symptoms,  or  to  some  other  point,  and  of  course  no  medical 
books  were  quoted.     In  course  of  the  examination  and  cross- 


APPENDIX.  339 

examination  of  the  two  Drs.  Condict,  many  questions  were 
asked  concerning  the  symptoms  which  follow  the  administra- 
tion of  arsenic,  and  the  manner  in  which  arsenic  produces 
death,  as  well  as  the  appearances  which  natural  diseases  pro- 
duce in  the  stomach,  resembling  in  some  respects  those 
which  follow  the  use  of  arsenic.  And  during  this  examina- 
tion, an  opinion  was  expressed,  that  the  appearances  in 
Pierson's  case  led  to  the  suspicion,  perhaps  to  the  belief, 
that  arsenic  had  passed  into  his  stomach,  although  none  had 
been  actually  detected  by  chymical  investigation.  The  ap- 
pearances indicated  arsenic  more  pointedly  than  any  other 
poison  ;  and  yet  it  would  not  be  safe  to  conclude,  absolutely 
and  certainly,  that  death  was  caused  by  arsenic,  unless  arsenic 
was  found  in  the  stomach.  It  was  stated  that  arsenic  might 
produce  death,  and  that  many  instances  were  on  record  in 
which  it  had  been  known  to  be  taken,  and  yet  none  was 
found  after  death.  It  might  be  all  carried  off  by  active 
vomiting  and  purging,  and  yet  produce  death,  and  none  re- 
main in  the  stomach.  The  case  of  Mr.  Chapman,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  mentioned.  No  arsenic  was  found  upon  a 
chymical  analysis.  Two  or  three  most  respectable  physi- 
cians testified,  that  taking  all  the  appearances  and  symptoms 
together,  they  believed  Chapman  died  from  poisoning  with 
arsenic.  Mina,  the  Spaniard,  accused  of  the  marder,  was 
found  guilty,  and  was  hanged.  The  appearances  of  Chap- 
man's stomach  most  strikmgly  resembled  Pierson's.  The 
stomach  and  parts  adjacent  resisted  putrefaction,  and  re- 
mained sound  a  long  time  after  death.  Christison  and  Orfila 
were  mentioned  as  high  authorities,  and  as  containing  many 
cases  in  which  the  morbid  appearances  of  the  stomach,  after 
death  from  arsenic,  were  precisely  the  same  as  in  Pierson's 
case. 

Among  other  effects  of  arsenic,  it  was  stated,  that  it 
tended  to  preserve  animal  substances  from  putrefaction. 
That  there  were  many  cases  on  record  of  persons  and  ani- 
mals poisoned  by  arsenic,  in  which  putrefaction  did  not  take 
place  for  months,  and  in  some  instances,  for  years,  after  death. 
Medical  authors  do  not  all  unite  in  the  belief  that  arsenic 
resists  putrefaction,  yet  the  recorded  facts  are  so  numerous 
and  strong  as  to  enforce  conviction  with  many. 

A  small  quantity  of  Fowler's  solution  of  arsenic  was  put 
into  a  human  stomach  taken  from  the  Almshouse  in  Phila- 


340  APPENDIX. 

delphia,  for  an  experiment.  It  was  left  for  two  or  three 
months  in  Dr.  Mitchill's  laboratory,  and  did  not  putrefy  in 
that  time.  It  had  the  strong  herring  smell,  as  in  Pierson's 
case,  and  as  in  Chapman's  case.  Christison,  in  his  late  and 
celebrated  treatise  on  Poisons,  page  258,  says,  "  I  have  kept 
a  bit  of  an  ox's  stomach  four  years  in  a  solution  of  arsenic, 
and  except  slight  shrivelling  and  whitening,  I  could  not  ob- 
serve any  change  in  it."  Some  older  writers  have  enter- 
tained the  opinion,  that  bodies  poisoned  by  arsenic  or  other 
active  poisons,  are  hurried  as  it  were  into  putrefaction. 
Later  experience,  and  many  well-attested  facts,  show  the 
fallacy  of  this  opinion.  If  a  few  instances  may  have  seemed 
to  give  it  some  support,  there  were  probably  some  peculiar 
circumstances  sufficient  to  account  for  the  early  decay,  in- 
dependently of  the  poison.  In  page  255,  Christison  says, 
"  Arsenic  possesses  the  singular  property  of  enabling  the 
bodies  of  men  and  animals  poisoned  with  it,  both  to  resist  de- 
cay unusualbj  long,  and  to  decay  in  an  unusual  manner.''^ 
He  then  proceeds  to  mention  various  cases.  In  the  Ursinus 
case,  one  body  had  been  buried  six  months,  and  was  not 
putrid.  Another  body  buried  two  and  a  half  years  was  found 
not  putrid,  but  dried  up  as  it  were.  Dogs  poisoned  with 
arsenic,  and  left  unburied  two  months  in  a  damp  cellar,  their 
flesh  and  alimentary  canal  were  found  fresh  and  red,  as  if 
pickled.  The  bodies  were  then  buried  for  eight  months  in  a 
wet  place,  when  the  intestines  were  found  red  and  entire, 
and  the  flesh  mostly  unaltered.  In  other  instances,  carcasses 
buried  three  years  were  found  to  be  dry  and  undecayed.  In 
page  257,  he  mentions  the  Begrenth  case,  three  bodies  of 
persons  disinterred,  one  five  months,  one  six  months,  and  a 
third  one  fourteen  months  after  death.  The  external  parts 
were  found  not  properly  putrid,  but  hard  and  cheesy  In  two 
of  them  the  intestines  were  entire,  could  be  handled,  tied, 
taken  out,  and  cut  up.  In  one,  a  sloughy  spot  found  near 
the  pylorus.  Arsenic  was  found  in  two  of  the  bodies.  Dr. 
Kelch  buried  the  internal  organs  of  a  man  killed  by  arsenic, 
whose  body  had  been  unburied  till  the  outer  parts  began  to 
decay.  Five  months  after,  he  examined  the  stomach  and 
intestines,  which  had  a  peculiar  smell,  quite  different  from 
putrid  bowels.  They  were  not  yet  acted  on  by  putrefaction, 
but  were  as  fresh  as  when  first  taken  from  the  body,  and 
might  have  served  to  make_anatomical  preparations.     Had 


APPENDIX.  341 

lost  nothing  of  their  colour,  glimmer,  or  firmness.  The  in- 
flamed spots  on  the  stomach  had  not  disappeared,  and  the 
small  intestines  showed  in  some  places  the  inflammatory 
redness  unchanged.  Warden's  case,  p.  258. — Body  buried 
three  weeks.  Mucous  coat  of  the  stomach,  except  its  mere 
surface,  very  firm,  and  all  the  morbid  appearances  quite  dis- 
tinct. Three  weeks  after  disinterment  the  vascularity  had 
disappeared  ;  but  the  membranes,  and  the  appearances  in 
them,  remained  in  the  same  state.  Metzger's  case. — An  old 
man  died  after  six  hours  illness.  Three  drachms  of  arsenic 
were  found  in  his  stomach.  "  The  body  was  kept  ten  days 
before  burial.  Eight  days  afterward  it  was  disinterred.  No 
sign  of  putrefaction  anywhere.''^ 

Dr.  Woolper  says,  "  bodies  poisoned  by  arsenic  resist 
putrefaction  ;"  and  it  is  well  known  that  it  is  used  in  stuffing 
birds  and  beasts  for  preservation  from  decay. 

Dr.  Borges  relates  a  case,  in  which,  fourteen  weeks  after 
death,  the  stomach  and  intestines  were  found  ytrm,  of  a  gray- 
ish white,  containing  crumbs  of  bread.  The  other  organs 
were  pulpy,  and  the  internal  parts  were  cheesy.  The  Chen- 
nitz  case,  in  page  25  of  Christison. — "In  1726,  five  weeks 
after  burial,  the  skin  everywhere  was  putrid — the  stomach 
and  intestines  perfectly  fresh." 

In  the  Warden  case,  appearances  were  precisely  the  same. 
"  Three  weeks  after  burial,  external  parts  much  decayed  : — • 
three  weeks  later,  the  stomach  and  intestines  were  found  by 
Christison  in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  preservation.''^  Dr. 
Borges  killed  a  rabbit  in  less  than  a  day  with  ten  grains  of 
arsenic,  buried  it  thirteen  months  under  the  eaves  of  a  house. 
When  dug  up,  the  skin,  muscles,  ligaments,  and  all  the  or- 
gans except  the  stomach  and  intestines,  had  disappeared,  not 
leaving  a  trace.  The  alimentary  canal,  from  the  throat  to 
the  anus,  with  the  hair,  and  bare  bones,  quite  entire.  When 
the  arsenic  is  all  discharged  suddenly  by  vomiting,  the  stom- 
ach and  body  may  decay  suddenly.  Mitchell  lived  seven 
days  in  great  distress — vomited  much, — "  the  stomach  was 
removed  for  minute  examination.  It  decayed  rapidly,  and 
in  twenty-four  hours  its  examination  was  impracticable,  while 
the  body  resisted  putrefaction.'"  Harles  says,  "  This  singular 
property  of  arsenic  is  now  no  longer  dnuhtfi/l.  Certain  cir- 
cumstances will  limit  it  or  impair  it,  wliile  others  will  favour 
or  increase  it  either  by  the  soil  of  the  burj-ing-ground  or  tho 

rf2 


342  "  APPENDIX. 

air  of  the  vault.  These  affect  the  decomposition  of  all  bod- 
ies indiscriminately,  and  will  therefore  affect  the  antiseptic 
properties  of  arsenic.  It  would  be  absurd  to  ascribe  to  arse- 
nic the  power  of  preventing  putrefaction  in  all  cases.  Those 
who  use  it  for  preserving  skins,  know  well  it  does  not  pos- 
sess it  under  all  circumstances — nor  does  any  other  anti- 
septic— not  even  alcohol.''^ 

Page  261.  "In  many  instances  of  poisoning  with  arsenic, 
the  body  has  been  found  long  after  death  in  so  perfect  a  state 
of  preservation,  as  to  admit  of  an  accurate  medicinal  inspec- 
tion and  successful  chymical  analysis." 

The  proofs  are  numerous  and  strong,  of  the  power  of  arse- 
nic to  resist  putrefaction  and  preserve  animal  substances 
from  decay  ;  and  the  high  state  of  preservation  in  which  Mr. 
Pierson's  internal  parts  were  found,  seven  months  after  death, 
affords  strong  ground  of  suspicion  of  its  use  in  his  case.  The 
cases  recorded  both  in  Christison  and  in  Orfila,  giving  in 
detail  the  morbid  appearances  of  the  stomach  of  persons  killed 
by  arsenic,  corresponding  precisely  with  those  found  in  Pier- 
son's  stomach,  are  amply  sufficient  to  justify  the  written 
opinion  expressed  by  the  four  examining  physicians,  that  the 
presumption  was  strong,  that  Pierson  came  to  his  death  by 
violent  means — that  he  died  not  of  naitiral  disease.  They  all 
looked  upon  arsenic  as  the  probable  cause  of  his  death,  although 
they  found  no  positive  proof. 

Pierson  died  alone.  No  physician  saw  him.  No  account 
could  be  had  of  his  symptoms,  except  that  he  manifested 
great  distress  by  his  groans,  and  died  in  convulsions — spasms 
following  each  other  in  quick  and  rapid  succession  for  thirty- 
six  or  forty-eight  hours  or  more,  with  a  paralytic  affection  of 
the  limbs  of  one  side.  He  had  been  subject  to  epilepsy  in  a 
mild  form,  one  spasm  perhaps  in  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  last- 
ing from  five  to  ten  minutes,  and  then  leaving  him  with  a 
perfect  recollection  and  remembrance  of  all  that  had  passed 
in  his  presence  during  the  paroxysm.  The  arsenic  (if  given) 
produced  high  irritation  and  extreme  distress  of  the  stomach  ; 
and  nothing  would  more  readily  produce  convulsions  ending 
m  death,  in  an  epileptic  patient,  than  an  irritated  state  of 
the  stomach. 

If  the  symptoms  could  have  been  known,  and  had  corrobo- 
rated the  evidence  which  the  stomach  itself  so  plainly  showed 
after  death — if  to  the  symptoms,  and  to  the  morbid  state  of 


APPENDIX.  343 

the  stomach,  be  added  the  sound  condition — the  imputrefied 
state  of  the  oesophagus  and  intestines,  seven  months  and  a 
half  after  death,  there  probably  would  have  been  found  few- 
persons,  either  on  the  bench,  at  the  bar,  or  in  the  jury-box, 
who  could  resist  the  conclusion  that  arsenic  was  the  cause 
of  his  death, — by  whom  administered,  is  a  question  for  others 
than  medical  men  to  try  and  determine. 


G. 

[When  the  present  work  was  projected,  about  the  close 
of  the  month  of  April,  a  letter  was  addressed  by  Dr.  A. 
W.  Ives,  in  behalf  of  the  writer,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk  of 
Albany,  for  such  information  as  he  might  be  able  to  fur- 
nish respecting  the  commencement  of  the  prophetical  career 
of  Matthews  in  Albany.  Mr.  Kirk  replied  very  promptly, 
but  the  letter  was  nearly  a  month  in  reaching  its  destination ; 
and  the  work  was  more  than  half  through  the  press  when  it 
was  received.     It  is  now  inserted  in  this  place.] 

Albany,  May  2,  1835. 
Dr.  a.  W.  Ives  ; 
Dear  Sir, — Your  communication  came  to  me  in  the  pres- 
sure of  business.  I  would  not  add  to  the  obloquy  already  rest- 
ing on  the  wicked  man  to  whom  you  refer.  But  if  I  can  state 
any  facts  which  may  help  to  guard  others  against  his  vile 
impositions,  I  will  cheerfully  contribute  them.  He  called  upon 
me  about  the  time  when  the  church  under  my  care  was  organ- 
ized, which  was  in  February,  1829.  In  our  first  interview, 
his  conversation  was  sensible,  scriptural,  and  in  the  highest 
tone  of  the  reforming  spirit.  But  there  was  nothing  very 
remarkable  to  make  a  favourable  or  unfavourable  impression. 
He  subscribed  a  small  sum  towards  the  erection  of  our 
church  edifice.  It  was  remarked  at  the  time  by  some  of 
whom  he  had  purchased  lumber,  "  He  is  a  lazy,  thriftless, 
dishonest  follow  ;  and  will  never  pay  it."  Whether  the  dec- 
laration was  true  or  not,  the  prophecy  was.  He  applied  for 
admission  to  our  church,  and  at  the  same  time  made  severe 


344  APPENDIX. 

and  unfounded  charges  against  two  of  its  most  respectable 
members.  Every  inquiry  we  made  satisfied  us  that  we  should 
bring  a  firebrand  into  our  society  if  he  were  admitted.  We 
accordingly  rejected  his  application.  But  finding  his  family  in 
want  of  suitable  clothing,  we  provided  for  them,  that  they  might 
attend  the  services  of  public  worship.  This  was  objected  to 
by  many  of  our  church,  because  he  was  a  very  ingenious, 
skilful  carpenter,  who  could  command  the  highest  wages  ; 
and  therefore,  by  our  charity,  we  were  said  to  be  sustaining 
him  in  idleness.  And  this  proved  to  be  true.  He  would 
neither  work  nor  let  others  work.  He  was  an  incessant 
talker.  And  being  a  stanch  advocate  for  temperance,  he 
would  go  to  workshops,  and  irritate  the  men  by  his  dogmatic 
and  injudicious  mode  of  urging  that  important  cause.  It 
was  frequently  said,  at  that  time,  that  he  would  stay  in  gro- 
cery stores  at  night,  proclaiming  the  doctrines  of  temperance, 
until  he  was  turned  out.  I  saw  but  little  of  him  from  the 
time  of  his  rejection  by  our  session.  But  the  more  I  saw, 
the  more  I  suspected  the  purity  of  his  zeal,  and  the  more 
manifest  it  was,  that  his  disposition  was  exceedingly  unlovely 
and  unchristian. 

The  next  pecuhar  information  I  had  concerning  him,  was 
by  a  note  sent  to  my  pulpit  one  Sabbath  morning  from  the 
mayor  of  the  city,  calling  on  the  citizens  to  turn  out  and 
search  for  Matthews,  who  had  gone  off  m  a  strange  manner 
with  his  children,  and  left  his  wife  in  great  distress  and  alone. 
Search  was  accordingly  made  ;  he  was  found  thirty  miles 
from  the  city.  His  account  of  the  matter  was,  that  Albany 
was  Sodom,  and  to  be  immediately  destroyed  ;  and  he  had 
fled  with  his  children  for  safety.  I  believe  he  was  imprisoned 
a  little  while  as  an  insane  man.  I  saw  him  soon  after  with 
a  long  beard,  haranguing  in  the  street ;  and  was  convinced 
that  he  meant  to  take  advantage  of  his  notoriety,  and  by  im- 
posing on  the  credulous,  find  an  easier  way  to  get  food  and 
raiment  than  by  the  exercise  of  his  mechanical  skill  and  in- 
dustry. I  then  lost  sight  and  sound  of  him  for  some  time, 
until  the  name  of  Matthias  the  Prophet  was  reported  from 
New-York.  A  little  inquiry  developed  the  fact  that  this  was 
the  very  Robert  Matthews  who  had  proved  himself  here  either 
insane  or  an  impostor.  From  that  time  you  can  trace  him. 
I  may  mention  one  other  circumstance  upon  which  I  have 
vecently  obtained  light.     I  saw  Mr.  Folger  after  Matthias's 


APPENDIX.  345 

arrest,  and  asked  him  how  he  could  be  deluded  T)y  so  bad  a 
man.  He  told  me  n  was  solely  by  his  entire  confidence  in  Mr. 
Pierson  ;  and  that  Matthews  had  told  him  I  agreed  entirely 
in  doctrine  with  him  (M.).  Now  the  fact  which  this  ex- 
plains is,  that  Mr.  Pierson  called  and  introduced  himself  to 
me,  perhaps  two  years  ago,  and  talked  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion in  a  way  which  I  did  not  then  understand.  But  I  now 
see  that  the  poor  fellow  came  to  have  the  assertion  of  Mat- 
thews confirmed.  This  deliberate  lie,  when  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Folger,  convinced  me  he  was  not  crazy.  And  yet  I  consider 
this  whole  affair  as  affording  a  melancholy  confirmation  of 
this  truth — When  a  man  begins  to  do  wrong,  he  knows  not 
where  he  will  end.  "  Is  thy  servant  a  dog,"  &c.,  I  have 
thought  again  and  again,  while  reading  the  horrible  detail  of 
this  man's  career  since  I  first  saw  him.  You  may  use  my 
name  or  communication  in  any  way. 

E.  N.  KIRK. 


H. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  Deslon,  a  French  physician  of 
some  eminence,  had  announced  himself  a  convert  and  joined 
Mesmer  in  the  practice  of  magnetism,  that  it  acquired  much 
renown.     Their  method  of  operating  was  as  follows  : — 

In  the  centre  of  the  room  was  placed  a  vessel  of  an  oval  or  cir- 
cular shape,  about  four  feet  in  diameter  and  one  foot  deep.  In 
this  were  laid  a  number  of  bottles,  disposed  in  radii,  with  their 
necks  directed  outward,  well  corked  and  filled  with  magnetized 
water.  Water  was  then  poured  into  the  vessel  so  as  to  cover 
the  bottles,  and  occasionally  pounded  glass  or  filings  of  iron 
were  added  to  the  water.  This  vessel  was  termed  the  baquet. 
From  its  cover,  which  was  pierced  with  many  holes,  issued 
long,  thin,  moveable  rods  of  iron,  which  could  be  applied  by 
the  patients  to  the  affected  part.  Besides,  to  the  ring  of  the 
cover  was  attached  a  cord  which,  when  the  patients  were 
seated  in  a  circle,  was  carried  round  them  all  so  as  to  form  a 
chain  of  connexion  ;  a  second  chain  was  formed  by  the  union 
of  their  hands,  and  it  was  recommended  that  they  should  sit 
so  close  that  those  adjoining  should  touch  by  their  knees 
and  feet,  which  was  supposed  wonderfully  to  facilitate  the 
passage  of  the  magnetic  fluid.    In  addition  to  this,  the  magnet' 


346  APPENDIX. 

ists  went  round,  placed  themselves  en  rapport  with  the  pa- 
tients, embraced  them  between  their  knees,  and  gently  rub- 
bed them  down  along  the  course  of  the  nerves,  using  gentle 
pressure  over  different  regions  of  the  chest  and  abdomen. 
The  effect  of  such  treatment  on  delicate  women  might  have 
been  foretold,  but  it  was  not  left  to  work  alone. 

The  house  which  Mesmer  inhabited  was  delightfully  situ- 
ated ;  his  rooms  spacious  and  sumptuously  furnished  ;  stained 
glass  and  coloured  blinds  shed  a  dim,  religious  light ;  mirrors 
gleamed  at  intervals  along  the  walls  ;  a  mysterious  silence  was 
preserved,  delicate  perfumes  floated  in  the  air,  and  occasion- 
ally the  melodious  sounds  of  the  harmonica  or  the  voice  came 
to  lend  their  aid  to  his  magnetic  powers.  His  salons  became 
the  daily  resort  of  all  that  was  brilliant  and  spirituel  in  the 
Parisian  fashionable  world,  Ladies  of  rank,  whom  indolence, 
voluptuous  indulgence,  or  satiety  of  pleasure,  had  filled  with 
vapours  or  nervous  affections  ;  men  of  luxurious  habits,  ener- 
vated by  enjoyment,  who  had  drained  sensuality  of  all  that  it 
could  offer,  and  gained  in  return  a  shattered  constitution  and 
premature  old  age,  came  in  crowds  to  seek  after  the  delight- 
ful emotions  and  novel  sensations  which  this  mighty  magician 
was  said  to  dispense.  They  approached  with  imaginations 
heated  by  curiosity  and  desire  ;  they  believed,  because  they 
were  ignorant ;  and  this  belief  was  all  that  was  required  for 
the  action  of  the  magnetic  charm.  The  women,  always 
the  most  ardent  in  enthusiasm,  first  experienced  yawnings, 
stretching,  then  slight  nervous  spasms,  and  finally,  crises  of 
excitation,  according  as  the  assistant  magnetizers  (jeunes 
homines,  beaux  et  rohustes  comme  des  Hercules)  multiplied 
and  prolonged  the  soft  passes  or  atiouchemens  by  which  the 
magnetic  influence  was  supposed  to  be  communicated.  The 
emotions  once  begun  were  soon  transmitted  to  the  rest,  as 
we  know  one  hysterical  female,  if  affected,  will  induce  an  at- 
tack in  all  others  similarly  predisposed  in  the  same  apartment. 
In  the  midst  of  this  strange  scene  entered  Mesmer,  clothed 
in  a  long  flowing  robe  of  Ulac-coloured  silk,  richly  embroidered 
with  golden  flowers,  and  holding  in  his  hand  a  long  white 
wand.  Advancing  with  an  air  of  authority  and  magic  gravity, 
he  seemed  to  govern  the  life  and  movements  of  the  individ- 
uals in  crises.  Women  panting  were  threatened  with  suffo- 
cation,— they  must  be  unlaced  ;  others  tore  the  walls,  or 
rolled  themselves  on  the  ground,  with  strong  spasms  in  the 


APPENDIX.  347 

throat,  and  occasionally  uttering  loud  shrieks, — the  violence 
of  the  crises  must  be  moderated.  He  approached,  traced 
over  their  bodies  certain  lines  with  his  wand  ;  they  became 
instantly  calm,  acknowledged  his  power,  and  felt  streams  of 
cold  or  burning  vapours  through  their  entire  frames  according 
to  the  direction  in  which  he  waved  his  hand. — Foreigii  Quar- 
terly Reviezv  on  the  Report  of  the  French  Royal  Academy, 
and  the  Royal  Academ.y  of  Medicine. 


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DATE  DUE 

W 

1 

DEMCO  38-297 

'^^\ 


